Occupation- and industry-specific cancer mortality among Japanese women from 1980 to 2015

Background The number of women in Japan who continue working after childbirth is on the rise. Over the past few years, Japan's cancer mortality rate has increased. About 50% of all cancer deaths among Japanese women aged 25-64 are caused by lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. This study aims to examine the difference in mortality risk for key cancers among women and explore the effect of the economic crisis in the mid-1990s separately for occupational and industrial categories. Methods Data from 1980 to 2015 were gathered from the Japanese Population Census and National Vital Statistics conducted in the same year. A Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate mortality risk and mortality trends for lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancer among Japanese working women aged 25-64 years. Results Across most industrial and occupational groups, the trends in age-standardised cancer mortality rate for women have declined. Workers in management, security and transportation have a higher cancer mortality risk than sales workers. The risk of death from all four cancers is higher for workers in the mining and electricity industries than for wholesale and retail workers. Conclusion To improve the health and well-being of employed Japanese women, it is crucial to monitor cancer mortality trends. Using these population-level quantitative risk estimates, industry- and occupation-specific prevention programmes can be developed to target women at higher cancer risk and enable the early detection and treatment of cancer.

Automated summary

This study examines the mortality risk and trends for major cancers among working women in Japan, specifically looking at the impact of the economic crisis in the mid-1990s on different industries and occupations. The results show a decline in age-standardised cancer mortality rates for women in most industrial and occupational groups, with workers in management, security, and transportation having a higher risk than sales workers. Additionally, workers in the mining and electricity industries have a higher risk than those in the wholesale and retail industries.