Abstract

Mortality and incidence studies have suggested that agricultural workers may be at an increased risk for some cancers including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). We used a death certificate-based case-control study design to investigate whether farmers in Taiwan had an increased risk of dying from NHL (ICD-9 codes 200 and 202). Data on all deaths of Taiwan residents were obtained from the Taiwan Death Certification Registry. Cases were deaths from NHL that occurred between 1997 and 2009 who were at least 50 years of age at death. Controls were deaths from all causes other than cancers. From each death certificate we extracted information on sex, marital status, year of birth, year of death, cause of death, county of residence, and usual occupation. The mortality odds ratio (MOR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using logistic regression models. From 1997 to 2009, a total of 32 456 deceased farmers were identified. Of these 32 456 decedents, 205 deaths were coded as NHL. Farmers were at a slightly but statistically nonsignificant excess risk of NHL (aMOR=1.11, 95% CI=0.96–1.29) compared to nonfarmers. The MOR for NHL among farmers was higher among those who died at ages 65 or older (aMOR=1.25, 95% CI=1.06–1.48) than those who died at younger ages (aMOR=0.81, 95% CI=0.60–1.10). Further investigation of NHL among farmers is warranted.