Radiation Risk Analysis of Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Ukrainian Chornobyl Catastrophe Liquidators

Abstract

Goal: To explore the possible impact of ionizing radiation in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders amongst clean-up workers of the Chornobyl catastrophe (liquidators). Design, object, and methods: Retrospective-prospective study (1987–2015) of liquidators from the State Register of Ukraine (SRU) with radiation doses records and Clinical-Epidemiological Register (CER) of the State Institution ≪National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine≫ (NRCRM). Moreover, cohort and cross-sectional studies of the randomized sample of liquidators from the CER (exposed group, 198 subjects) were examined. Internal control group included the liquidators irradiated in doses <50.0 mSv (42 persons). All subjects were assessed by a detailed clinical examination and a battery of standardized neuropsychiatric scales, psychometric, and neuropsychological tests. Descriptive and variation statistics, non-parametric criteria, regression-correlation analysis, survival analysis by Kaplan & Meier, and risk analysis were used. Results: Exposed group vs. control group showed cognitive disorders in 99 (50.0%) vs. 20 (18.1%), (P = 0.04); affective disorders in 96 (48.3%) vs. 36 (32.7%) (P = 0.007), and stress-related disorders in 115 (58.4%) vs. 8 (7.3%) (P < 0.001). In the main group exposed to ≥50 mSv vs. internal control group (exposed to <50 mSv), affective disorders were present, respectively, in 89 (56.4%) vs. 7 (19.1%) (P < 0.001), and stress-related disorders in 98 (62.8%) vs. 17 (40.4%) (P = 0.009). Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidential intervals (95%CI) of Incidence of some neuropsychiatric disorders in liquidators of 1986–1987 related to internal control (doses <50 mSv) were as follows: organic psychosis (RR = 3.15; 95% CI: 2.6; 3.7); non-psychotic organic brain damage (RR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.6; 2.5); acute (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.3; 1.5), and chronic cerebrovascular disorders (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.0;1.5). Neuropsychiatric diseases show a strong, increasing, and approximately quadratic statistically significant (Pv < 0.001) relationship with individual dose, yielding an estimated excess relative risk ERR = 2.76 Sv−2 (95% CI 1.06–7.15). Conclusions: Liquidators have an excess of cognitive, affective, and stress-related disorders. The risk of diseases rises with radiation dose. Radiation risks are revealed for organic psychoses, non-psychotic organic brain damage, acute and chronic cerebrovascular pathology.