Mortality Risk After a Major Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Preoperative Exposure to Air Pollution

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 μg/m 3 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.