This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kogevinas, M Articles by Sunyer, J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kogevinas, M Articles by Sunyer, J

Original Articles

Respiratory symptoms, lung function and use of health services among unemployed young adults in Spain. Spanish Group of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

The association of respiratory symptoms, lung function and use of health services with employment status was examined in Spain, a country with a high rate of unemployment. A population sample comprising 179 unemployed and 1,868 employed subjects aged 20-44 yrs in 1993, was randomly selected from a base population of about 170,000 people in five urban and rural areas of Spain. Subjects completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, occupational exposure and use of health services, and performed a forced spirometry, a methacholine challenge test and blood tests. Unemployed subjects had a higher risk of simple chronic bronchitis (odds ratio=2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.30-3.24) and of bronchitis-type symptoms, than those who were employed. These risks were, in part, due to the higher prevalence of smoking, poorer housing and prior occupational exposures among unemployed than among employed people. Smaller differences were found between employed and unemployed subjects for asthma-type symptoms, atopia and lung function tests. Use of health services among subjects with respiratory symptoms was similar among employed and unemployed subjects, except that the latter consistently reported less frequent contact with specialized practitioners. Unemployed subjects had a higher risk of bronchitis-type symptoms than employed subjects. In Spain's national, free-access healthcare system, the differential use of specialized health services by employment status is likely to imply differences in the characteristics of the healthcare provided.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Caballero, C. A. Torres-Duque, C. Jaramillo, F. Bolivar, F. Sanabria, P. Osorio, C. Orduz, D. P. Guevara, and D. Maldonado Prevalence of COPD in Five Colombian Cities Situated at Low, Medium, and High Altitude (PREPOCOL Study)* Chest, February 1, 2008; 133(2): 343 - 349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ellison-Loschmann, J. Sunyer, E. Plana, N. Pearce, J-P. Zock, D. Jarvis, C. Janson, J. M. Anto, M. Kogevinas, and on behalf of the European Community Respiratory He Socioeconomic status, asthma and chronic bronchitis in a large community-based study Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2007; 29(5): 897 - 905. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Basagana, J. Sunyer, M. Kogevinas, J.-P. Zock, E. Duran-Tauleria, D. Jarvis, P. Burney, and J. M. Anto Socioeconomic Status and Asthma Prevalence in Young Adults: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey Am. J. Epidemiol., July 15, 2004; 160(2): 178 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Tzanakis, U. Anagnostopoulou, V. Filaditaki, P. Christaki, and N. Siafakas Prevalence of COPD in Greece Chest, March 1, 2004; 125(3): 892 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Tobias, J.B. Soriano, S. Chinn, J.M. Anto, J. Sunyer, and P. Burney Symptoms of asthma, bronchial responsiveness and atopy in immigrants and emigrants in Europe Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2001; 18(3): 459 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Janson, J. Anto, P. Burney, S. Chinn, R. de Marco, J. Heinrich, D. Jarvis, N. Kuenzli, B. Leynaert, C. Luczynska, et al. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far? Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2001; 18(3): 598 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Cerveri, S. Accordini, G. Verlato, A. Corsico, M.C. Zoia, L. Casali, P. Burney, and R. de Marco Variations in the prevalence across countries of chronic bronchitis and smoking habits in young adults Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2001; 18(1): 85 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. S. Pena, M. Miravitlles, R. Gabriel, C. A. Jimenez-Ruiz, C. Villasante, J. F. Masa, J. L. Viejo, and L. Fernandez-Fau Geographic Variations in Prevalence and Underdiagnosis of COPD : Results of the IBERPOC Multicentre Epidemiological Study Chest, October 1, 2000; 118(4): 981 - 989. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]