In plain language
In a survey of 746 people, cath and electrophysiology (EP) lab physicians, nurses and technologists self-reported more cataract, orthopedic illness, skin lesions, hypertension and high cholesterol than unexposed controls, especially physicians and those with longer careers. This is an association, not proof of cause.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Cross-sectional survey
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists, Electrophysiologists, Nurses, Radiologic technologists, Mixed lab staff
- Size
- n = 746 questionnaire respondents (466 exposed staff, 280 unexposed controls)
- Topics
- Eye lens and cataractsCancer riskCardiovascular diseaseMusculoskeletal injury and ergonomicsSafety culture and compliance
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Skin lesions, orthopedic illness, cataract, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were all more common in exposed cath/EP lab staff than in unexposed controls.
Key figures: skin lesions P=0.002; orthopedic illness P<0.001; cataract P=0.003; hypertension P=0.02; hypercholesterolemia P<0.001
In highly exposed physicians the adjusted odds of cataract were about nine times those of controls.
Key figures: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 9 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2-41; P=0.004)
Highly exposed physicians had higher adjusted odds of cancer that did not reach statistical significance.
Key figures: adjusted OR 4.5 (95% CI: 0.9-25; P=0.06)
Highly exposed physicians had higher adjusted odds of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
Key figures: hypertension OR 1.7 (95% CI: 1-3; P=0.05); hypercholesterolemia OR 2.9 (95% CI: 1-5; P=0.004)
Health problems followed a gradient, being worse for physicians than technicians and nurses and for those with more than 16 years of work.
Key figures: >16 years
Limits to keep in mind
Cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire with self-reported health outcomes and no individual dose measurement, so the findings show association rather than cause and may be affected by recall and response bias. The cancer estimate is imprecise and not statistically significant.
Related research summaries
- SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Increasing Awareness and Reducing Occupational Hazards in the Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Laboratories: Working to Eliminate Lead and Complications of Radiation in Cardiovascular Team Study (2026, Cross-sectional survey)
- The occupational effects of interventional cardiology: results from the WIN for Safety survey (2012, Cross-sectional survey)
- Occupational hazards in cardiac electrophysiology: Insights from an HRS member survey (2025, Cross-sectional survey)
- Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology: a narrative review of health effects and novel approaches to ensure radiation safety (2025, Narrative review)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.