Cohort study protocol: investigating the impact of occupational radiation exposure on chronic non-communicable diseases among interventional radiology and nuclear medicine radiation workers - the chongqing radiation workers cohort study (CRWs)

Abstract

Background While it is established that interventional radiology and nuclear medicine radiation workers constitute an ideal cohort for low-dose irradiation studies within the spectrum of occupational radiation exposure, there is a noticeable lack of comprehensive cohort investigations both domestically and internationally. Addressing this gap, the Chongqing radiation workers (CRWs) cohort study has been formulated to systematically assess the impact of occupational radiation exposure on chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among professionals in these fields. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the influence of factors such as occupational radiation dose, demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary habits on the incidence and progression of NCDs. Crucially, researchers will delve into dose reconstruction for this specific population, including considerations such as sensitive organs, cumulative dose, and biological dose. Methods The CRWs study adopts a retrospective and prospective cohort design, with plans to enroll approximately 6000 participants from Chongqing commencing in 2023. The principal objective is to examine the impact of occupational radiation exposure on NCDs. Various data, including questionnaires, radiation dose forms, physical examination results, and biological samples, will be systematically collected and analyzed. A sustained follow-up over 20–30 years will be conducted, continuously documenting both radiation dose and health-related data. Discussion The cohort ensures lifelong follow-up and furnishes comprehensive data on multiple variables, yielding pivotal insights into the risk factors and consequences of occupational radiation exposure in interventional and nuclear medicine environments on NCDs. Our formulation of a plan for dose reconstruction in radiation-sensitive organs significantly addresses the current critical concern. The sample size in CRWs is limited, impeding the collection of numerous outcomes in a short timeframe; thus, necessitating a prolonged and thorough follow-up for the study. The observed gender imbalance among groups may introduce bias when estimating the relationship between exposure factors and NCDs. Trial registration The protocol has been registered on National Health Security Information Platform and Medical Research Information Filing Information System. MR-50-23-009837.https://www.medicalresearch.org.cn/login