ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate standardised hospitalisation ratios (SHR) for chronic lower respiratory diseases among demolition and cement workers in Denmark, 1995-2009. DESIGN: This is a population-based register study on data from 'the Occupational Hospitalisation Register'. SHR of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was calculated for both demolition and cement workers. SETTINGS: Register study with data from all hospitals in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: 895 demolition workers and 5633 cement and concrete workers were included in the study and all economical active men were used as reference group. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant high SHR for the cement workers, SHR=134 (95% CI 117 to 153). The SHR for demolition workers was 131 (95% CI 87 to 188). CONCLUSIONS: We find a higher risk of being hospitalised due to COPD in cement and concrete workers (significant) and demolition workers (insignificant) compared to gainfully employed men.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To show trends in age-standardised hospital admission ratios (SHR) for chronic lower respiratory diseases, estimated for Danish construction workers over three time periods (1981-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2009). DESIGN: Within consecutive cohorts of all male building and construction workers in Denmark, selected occupations: bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers and 'other construction workers' were followed up for hospitalisation due to chronic lower respiratory diseases. SHR was calculated for each occupation and time period. Time trend was calculated for construction workers at large using Poisson regression. SETTING: Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: All gainfully employed male building and construction workers aged 20 or more. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-standardised and gender-standardised hospitalisation ratios (SHR). RESULTS: The number of hospitalised construction workers at large was reduced from 1134 in the first 10-year period to 699 in the last 9-year period. Among all Danish males, it was, however, even more reduced as reflected in the expected number that was down from 1172 to 617. Hence, SHR increased from 97 during 1981-1990, 100 during 1991-2000 to 113 during 2001-2009. It means that SHR increased with an average rate of 0.76% per year (95% CI 0.28 to 1.24) during the study period. A low SHR=72 (95% CI 60 to 87) was found among carpenters in 1981-1990. From 2001 to 2009, high SHRs were found among painters (SHR=147; 95% CI 111 to 192) and plumbers (SHR=132; 95% CI 101 to 171). In general, the selected groups of construction workers had, however, a low or average SHR due to chronic lower respiratory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The number of hospitalised workers, suffering from chronic lower respiratory diseases, was reduced over time for construction workers, but for all economically active men, it was reduced even more. Therefore, SHR due to chronic lower respiratory diseases increased over time in the construction industry at large.
Subject(s)
Asthma/physiopathology , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adolescent , Adult , Asthma/psychology , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultSubject(s)
Health Personnel , Religion , Christianity , Clothing , Denmark , Human Rights , Humans , Islam , Prejudice , SymbolismSubject(s)
Eugenics , Prenatal Diagnosis/ethics , Religion and Medicine , Female , Humans , PregnancySubject(s)
Asthma/etiology , Bronchial Hyperreactivity/etiology , Swimming Pools , Swimming , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Inflammation/etiology , Male , Sputum/cytologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Our knowledge about longitudinal predictors of atopy is limited. OBJECTIVES: To describe changes in skin test reactivity during a 3-year period in a sample of adolescents and adults with atopic disease and to identify factors of importance for these changes. METHODS: From a sample of 1,186 candidates, ranging in age from 14 to 44 years, who in a screening questionnaire reported symptoms suggestive of respiratory allergic disease, 344 individuals with a positive skin prick test (SPT) result concomitantly with asthma and/or rhinitis were clinically studied on 2 occasions, 3 years apart. RESULTS: In total, 134 (39% of the study population) had a different SPT result at follow-up compared with baseline, based on a diagnostic criterion of 3 mm for a positive test result; 77 (22%) developed de novo sensitizations to 1 or more allergens, 45 (13%) had remission of 1 or more sensitizations, and 12 (4%) both gained and lost sensitizations. Female sex (odds ratio = 1.90 [1.02-3.57], P = .04) significantly predicted incidence of 1 or more sensitizations. CONCLUSIONS: Four of 10 adults with atopic disease will have changes in SPT status during a 3-year period, and most will gain new sensitizations. Women with atopic disease are at increased risk of developing new sensitizations compared with men.
