Table 5—

Association between job and general respiratory symptoms, work-related symptoms, atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), adjusted for age, smoking and sex^#

	Pool attendant	Swimming instructor	Combination attendant/ instructor	Cleaner	Technician
General respiratory symptoms
Problems with breathing?	2.2 (0.9–5.7)	2.1 (1.2–3.5)*	2.6 (1.4–4.9)*	2.4 (0.8–7.5)	1.7 (0.6–4.6)
Yes, constantly	2.5 (0.1–48.8)	1.7 (0.4–6.7)	4.6 (0.8–24.9)	2.1 (0.4–10.3)	1 (0.1–13.3)
Frequently, but it always improves	0.7 (0.1–3.3)	2.3 (0.8–6.5)	1.8 (0.6–5.7)	3.2 (1.2–8.4)*	0.6 (0.1–4.5)
Very rarely	3.5 (1.4–8.9)*	1.9 (0.9–3.8)	1.8 (0.8–4)	1.3 (0.3–6.0)	2.8 (0.8–9.1)
Cough during last 12 months	1.8 (0.5–6.3)	3.5 (1.6–7.3)*	2.9 (1.3–6.6)*	4.1 (1.1–14.7)*	1.3 (0.4–4.3)
Phlegm during last 12 months	2 (0.6–6.9)	2.6 (1.2–5.6)*	3.1 (1.2–7.8)*	1.5 (0.2–10.4)	1.1 (0.3–4.4)
Tightness of chest during last 12 months	0.3 (0–1.7)	1.3 (0.6–2.7)	1.1 (0.4–2.7)	2.3 (1.0–5.3)	1.5 (0.5–4.5)
Dyspnoea when walking on a flat surface with people of the same age	1.6 (0.5–5.2)	2 (0.9–4.4)	1.8 (0.7–4.2)	3.8 (0.6–25.3)	1.4 (0.2–8.6)
Wheeze during last 12 months	0.3 (0–3)	1.2 (0.6–2.2)	1.3 (0.6–2.9)	1.9 (0.6–5.6)	1.6 (0.5–5.4)
Wheeze and shortness of breath during last 12 months	0.4 (0–4.2)	1.1 (0.6–2.1)	1.2 (0.5–3)	1.6 (0.4–6.4)	1.8 (0.6–5.3)
Have you ever had asthma?	0.9 (0.2–3.5)	1 (0.4–2.3)	0.5 (0.1–1.8)	2.4 (0.4–13.8)	2.5 (0.6–10.5)
Was it doctor diagnosed?	0.9 (0.2–4.1)	1 (0.4–2.5)	0.3 (0.1–1.6)	1.6 (0.1–21)	2.1 (0.4–10.8)
Asthma attack during last 12 months	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Woken up by shortness of breath during last 12 months	2.4 (0.3–17.7)	1.2 (0.3–4.2)	1.4 (0.3–5.9)	2.2 (0.2–20.7)	0.5 (0.1–4)
Shortness of breath after exercise during last 12 months	1.6 (0.4–6.4)	1.3 (0.6–2.7)	2.1 (0.9–4.8)	2.1 (0.7–6.9)	1.9 (0.6–6.3)
Asthma attacks during last 12 months whilst at work	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Have you ever changed work because of asthma?	NR	NR	NR	NR
Asthma medication during last 12 months	0.5 (0–6)	1.5 (0.5–4.2)	1 (0.2–4.2)	4.4 (1.2–16.5)*	1.8 (0.3–11.7)
Asthma-related symptoms
Cough	2.3 (0.9–5.4)	2.4 (1.4–4.1)*	3.0 (1.6–5.7)*	2.4 (0.9–6.1)	1.3 (0.5–3.3)
Phlegm	2.5 (1.3–5.0)*	1.5 (0.9–2.5)	1.9 (>1.0–3.4)*	1.5 (0.4–5.5)	1.4 (0.6–3.4)
Wheeze	0.4 (0–4.8)	1.0 (0.3–3.1)	1.8 (0.6–5.4)	1.3 (0.3–5.7)	2.1 (0.5–8.3)
Wheeze and shortness of breath	0.6 (0.1–4.7)	0.7 (0.2–2.3)	1.7 (0.6–5.1)	3.5 (0.9–13.7)	1.8 (0.5–6.2)
Shortness of breath	1.1 (0.3–4.0)	1.2 (0.6–2.5)	2.1 (>1.0–4.5)*	2.6 (0.9–7.9)	0.9 (0.2–4.8)
Tightness	1.2 (0.4–3.9)	1.4 (0.7–2.8)	2.2 (1.1–4.6)*	1.4 (0.4–4.6)	0.4 (0.1–1.9)
Upper respiratory symptoms
Hoarseness	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Lost voice	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Sinusitis	0.7 (0.3–2.1)	2.4 (1.2–4.9)*	2.3 (1.0–5.6)	0.4 (0.1–2.9)	2.0 (0.7–5.7)
Chronic cold	2 (0.4–10.1)	3.4 (1.2–10.1)*	3.5 (1.2–10.2)*	1.5 (0.1–15.2)	1.4 (0.3–6.5)
Dry/sore throat	1.2 (0.5–2.9)	2.4 (1.2–4.5)*	3.2 (1.7–5.9)*	1.1 (0.4–3.2)	1.6 (0.5–4.5)
Rhinitis
Blocked nose	1.4 (0.6–3.2)	2.0 (>1.0–3.8)*	3.7 (1.9–7.3)*	1.1 (0.3–3.8)	2.2 (0.8–5.9)
Runny nose	1.5 (0.8–3.0)	1.2 (0.8–2)	2.2 (1.3–3.5)*	0.6 (0.1–2.4)	1.9 (0.7–4.9)
Sneezing	1.0 (0.4–2.2)	2.0 (1.1–3.6)*	2.3 (1.2–4.4)*	1.2 (0.4–3.5)	2.7 (1.1–6.7)*
Itchy, watery eyes	1.5 (0.7–3.2)	1.5 (0.8–2.6)	3.0 (1.7–5.3)*	0.9 (0.4–2.2)	0.9 (0.4–2.2)
BHR	1.2 (0.4–3.4)	1.6 (1.0–2.8)	1.3 (0.7–2.5)	1.0 (0.3–3.4)	0.9 (0.2–4.0)
Atopy	1.0 (0.4–2.4)	1.3 (0.8–2.2)	0.9 (0.5–1.6)	1.3 (0.5–3.4)	0.8 (0.4–1.9)

Data are presented as odds ratio (95% confidence interval). NR: no results available due to low numbers of individuals with symptoms. ^#: management/administration, catering and reception were used as reference. *: p<0.05.