Relationship of respiratory symptoms, lung function, and conditions to occupational exposures
| N‡ | Exposed§ | Not exposed§ | Odds ratio(95% CI)† | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tlco, carbon monoxide lung transfer factor. | ||||
| *p<0.05. | ||||
| †Odds ratios (and 95% CI) were adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, and pack years. ‡Number of subjects with respiratory symptoms or conditions. | ||||
| §Proportion of subjects with specific condition with and without exposure. | ||||
| Biological dust | n = 484 | n = 729 | ||
| Morning cough | 195 | 91 (18.9) | 104 (14.3) | 1.41 (1.03 to 1.93)* |
| Chronic cough | 120 | 57 (11.3) | 63 (8.96) | 1.40 (0.96 to 2.06) |
| Morning phlegm | 90 | 40 (8.2) | 50 (6.9) | 1.25 (0.80 to 1.94) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 49 | 26 (5.5) | 23 (3.1) | 1.74 (0.97 to 3.11) |
| Dyspnoea | 277 | 130 (26.9) | 147 (20.2) | 1.35 (1.01 to 1.79)* |
| Mild airflow obstruction | 226 | 102 (21.1) | 124 (17.0) | 1.30 (0.96 to 1.76) |
| Moderate airflow obstruction | 83 | 38 (7.9) | 45 (6.2) | 1.27 (0.80 to 2.00) |
| Tlco <80% predicted | 153 | 62 (13.1) | 91 (12.5) | 1.04 (0.80 to 1.34) |
| Chronic obstructive bronchitis | 22 | 15 (3.1) | 7 (1.0) | 3.19 (1.27 to 7.97)* |
| Emphysema (symptomatic) | 29 | 19 (4.0) | 10 (1.4) | 3.18 (1.41 to 7.13)* |
| Emphysema (asymptomatic) | 56 | 30 (6.2) | 26 (3.6) | 1.89 (1.07 to 3.34)* |
| COPD | 42 | 26 (5.4) | 16 (2.2) | 2.70 (1.39 to 5.23)* |
| Mineral dust | n = 399 | n = 814 | ||
| Morning cough | 195 | 67 (16.8) | 128 (15.7) | 1.06 (0.75 to 1.49) |
| Chronic cough | 120 | 42 (10.5) | 78 (9.6) | 1.08 (0.71 to 1.65) |
| Morning phlegm | 90 | 40 (10.0) | 50 (6.1) | 1.44 (0.90 to 2.28) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 49 | 21 (5.3) | 28 (3.4) | 1.32 (0.71 to 2.44) |
| Dyspnoea | 277 | 92 (23.1) | 185 (22.7) | 1.22 (0.89 to 1.67) |
| Mild airflow obstruction | 226 | 79 (19.8) | 147 (18.1) | 0.93 (0.67 to 1.29) |
| Moderate airflow obstruction | 83 | 25 (6.3) | 58 (7.1) | 0.71 (0.42 to 1.19) |
| Tlco <80% predicted | 153 | 50 (12.8) | 102 (12.7) | 0.85 (0.64 to 1.13) |
| Chronic obstructive bronchitis | 22 | 9 (2.3) | 13 (1.6) | 1.40 (0.56 to 3.51) |
| Emphysema (symptomatic) | 29 | 11 (2.8) | 18 (2.3) | 1.07 (0.46 to 2.45) |
| Emphysema (asymptomatic) | 56 | 20 (5.0) | 36 (4.4) | 0.96 (0.52 to 1.79) |
| COPD | 42 | 16 (4.1) | 26 (3.3) | 1.13 (0.57 to 2.27) |
| Gases and fumes | n = 663 | n = 550 | ||
| Morning cough | 195 | 116 (17.5) | 79 (14.4) | 1.27 (0.92 to 1.76) |
| Chronic cough | 120 | 70 (10.6) | 50 (9.1) | 1.16 (0.79 to 1.72) |
| Morning phlegm | 90 | 60 (9.1) | 30 (5.5) | 1.59 (1.00 to 2.53)* |
| Chronic bronchitis | 49 | 31 (4.7) | 18 (3.3) | 1.31 (0.72 to 2.40) |
| Dyspnoea | 277 | 154 (23.2) | 123 (22.4) | 1.09 (0.82 to 1.45) |
| Mild airflow obstruction | 226 | 124 (18.7) | 102 (18.6) | 0.92 (0.67 to 1.24) |
| Moderate airflow obstruction | 83 | 45 (6.8) | 38 (6.9) | 0.71 (0.42 to 1.19) |
| Tlco <80% predicted | 153 | 84 (13.0) | 68 (12.5) | 1.03 (0.80 to 1.33) |
| Chronic obstructive bronchitis | 22 | 17 (2.6) | 5 (0.9) | 2.81 (1.01 to 7.79)* |
| Emphysema (symptomatic) | 29 | 18 (2.7) | 11 (2.0) | 1.26 (0.57 to 2.80) |
| Emphysema (asymptomatic) | 56 | 32 (4.8) | 24 (4.4) | 0.96 (0.52 to 1.79) |
| COPD | 42 | 28 (4.2) | 14 (2.6) | 1.63 (0.83 to 3.22) |