Study reveals high prevalence of radiation-induced cataracts among radiation workers of interventional cardiology

The study showed that the prevalence rate of radiation-induced cataracts among radiation workers of interventional cardiology was 16.7%.

The researchers identified a significant relationship between the estimated cumulative radiation dose, the risk of radiation-induced cataracts, and lens density. They revealed an association between increased cumulative radiation dose and increasing risk of radiation-induced cataracts and lens density. A significant relationship was also found between radiation protection use, the risk of radiation-induced cataracts, and lens density.

“Responsive use of ceiling-suspended shields and protective eyewear will lead to reduced risk of radiation-induced cataracts and lens density,” Wida Setiawati, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, and colleagues wrote in their study.

A cataract is a haziness of the lens structure with multifactorial aetiology, including diabetes mellitus, age, genetics, use of steroid drugs, trauma, free radicals, and radiation exposure. The lens is one of the most radiosensitive tissues in the human body. Lens structure can be disrupted due to radiation exposure, especially ionizing radiation. Cataract is classified as a deterministic effect of radiation, which only appears when the radiation exposure dose limit is exceeded.

Among the most frequent fluoroscopy users in the medical profession are radiation workers of interventional cardiology. Consequently, they are vulnerable to radiation-induced cataracts. The researchers aimed to determine the prevalence of radiation-induced cataracts and its correlation with radiation exposure dose and radiation protection equipment use among radiation workers of interventional cardiology.

For this purpose, they conducted a cross-sectional and retrospective case–control study comprising 180 subjects. The prevalence of radiation-induced cataracts was assessed using Scheimpflug analysis on the Pentacam-Oculus device. Questionnaires and personal dosimeters were used to identify individual cumulative radiation exposure dose and radiation protection equipment use.

The study led to the following findings:

• The prevalence of radiation-induced cataracts was 16.7%.
• The median cumulative radiation dose was 0.8 Gy.
• There was a positive correlation between cumulative radiation dose and lens density (R Spearman = 0.64).
• 83.9% of subjects used ceiling-suspended shields for 71 to 100% of their working period.
• Most subjects (40.6%) did not wear protective eyewear.
• There was a statistically significant increasing risk of radiation-induced cataracts and unresponsive use of radiation protection equipment.
• Subjects using ceiling-suspended shields in only 31 to 50% of their working period increased their cataract risk by 10.8 times.
• Subjects using protective eyewear in only 51 to 70% of their working period increased their cataract risk by 8.64 times.
• Subjects who did not wear protective eyewear had an odd ratio of 164.3 compared to those who did.

“The findings showed that radiation-induced cataracts among radiation workers of interventional cardiology are dependent on the radiation exposure dose and the use of radiation protection equipment,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

The study titled, “Effects of Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Cataract among Radiation Workers of Interventional Cardiology in Indonesia,” was published online in the Journal of Clinical Interventional Radiology. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775854