ABSTRACT
The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the effects of smoking and occupational exposures on the decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and the presence of airflow limitation (FEV1 x100/forced vital capacity (FVC) being < 65) at follow-up. A random sample of 1,933 men aged 22-54 years in Bergen, Norway, were invited into the survey. Smoking habits and measurements of FEV1 were recorded at the initial survey in 1965-1970 (n = 1,591) and at follow-up in 1988-1990 (n = 951). Past or present self-reported occupational exposures to eleven airborne agents (dusts, gases, vapours and fumes) and measurements of FVC were recorded at follow-up only. The decline in FEV1 was associated (p < 0.001) with age, body height and smoking. Smoking cessation reduced the decline to the level of lifetime nonsmokers. Accelerated decline in FEV1 was observed in subjects exposed to sulphur dioxide gas and to metal fumes. The adjusted decline in FEV1 increased progressively in subjects exposed to increasing numbers of occupational agents (test for trend: p < 0.01). Airflow limitation was observed in 9.5% at follow-up, and increased with age and cigarette consumption. In this community follow-up survey in men, smoking and occupational exposures to sulphur dioxide gas, metal fumes and the numbers of specific agents were found to be important predictors for accelerated decline in FEV1.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Smoking/adverse effects , Adult , Body Height , Dust/adverse effects , Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology , Gases/adverse effects , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Norway/epidemiology , Regression Analysis , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Our aim was to evaluate possible risk factors, other than sexual activity, for urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. A case-control study was designed. 50 cases and 50 controls were included. A larger fraction of cases than controls reported that episodes of the following preceded the UTI: voluntary deferred voiding (Odds ratio 5.0, 95% confidence interval 1.7; 20.1), cold hands (4.7, 1.3; 25.3), cold feet (5.8, 2.0; 22.8) and cold buttocks (5.5, 1.2; 51.0). Cold body parts should be further evaluated as a possible risk factor for UTI in UTI-prone women.