Mortality Risk After a Major Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Preoperative Exposure to Air Pollution: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine whether preoprerative exposure to air pollution is associated with mortality after a major cancer surgery. Methods: All patients who underwent major cancer surgeries after hospitalization between January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, were included. Results: In total, 244,766 patients who underwent major cancer surgeries were included. Both 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide and 0.1-ppm increase in carbon monoxide were associated with a 7% increase in 90-day mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Furthermore, a 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide, 0.1 ppm increase in carbon monoxide, and 1 ╔g/m³ increase in particulate matter 2.5 were associated with a 4%, 3%, and 1% increase in 1-year all-cause mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Conclusions: Preoperative exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients after major cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]