Cancer Risk Elevated Among Surgeons According to Study

Researchers from Harvard Medical School have found that surgeons in the United States face more than double the cancer mortality rate compared to nonsurgeon physicians, and about 20% higher than the general population of non-physicians. Despite this increased risk, overall death rates for surgeons remain lower than those of non-physicians.

The study, titled "Mortality Among Surgeons in the United States," was published in JAMA Surgery. It examined data from the National Vital Statistics System to determine mortality rates and leading causes of death among surgeons in comparison with other professions.

The analysis included 2023 records for individuals aged 25-74, comprising 224 surgeons and 2,740 nonsurgeon physicians. The study utilized data from the American Community Survey and AMA Physician Masterfile.

Mortality rates were standardized by age and sex to enable comparison with nonsurgeon physicians as well as other professionals (lawyers, engineers, scientists) and all workers. The researchers calculated mortality rate ratios (MRR).

Surgeons had 355.3 deaths per 100k population compared to 228.4 per 100k for nonsurgeon physicians, resulting in an MRR of 1.56. Surgeons' mortality rates were below those of all other workers (632.5 per 100k) and similar to lawyers, engineers, and scientists (404.5 per 100k with a 0.88 MRR).

Surgeons also faced higher rates of death from car accidents than nonsurgeon physicians (13.4 vs. 3.4 deaths per 100k), although their rate was lower compared to all other worker groups (16.6 per 100k).

For causes such as respiratory diseases, influenza, kidney disease, liver disease, septicemia, and diabetes, surgeons had the lowest mortality rates among the groups examined.

The study noted that cancer-related deaths were significantly higher for surgeons at 193.2 per 100k compared to nonsurgeon physicians (87.5 per 100k), yielding an MRR of 2.21. This was the only category where surgeons' mortality rates exceeded those of all other workers (162.0 per 100k).

The authors suggest that similar health knowledge and resources among surgical and nonsurgical physicians indicate surgery-specific workplace factors might be responsible for the increased cancer deaths.

Written by Justin Jackson, edited by Sadie Harley, fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is meticulously produced through human contribution. We depend on support from readers like you to maintain independent science journalism. If this reporting is significant to you, please consider donating (particularly on a monthly basis). In appreciation, you will receive an ad-free experience.