Abstract
Background: Work environments are potential areas for spreading respiratory infections.
Objective: To compare the occurrence of respiratory infections among different occupations among adults with newly diagnosed asthma.
Methods: We analysed a population-based study sample of 521 working-age adults with newly diagnosed asthma who were living in the Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Southern Finland. The determinant of interest was occupation at the time of diagnosis of asthma. We assessed potential relations between occupation and the occurrence of upper respiratory infections, including common cold, sinusitis, and otitis media, and lower respiratory tract infections, including acute bronchitis and pneumonia during the past 12 months. The measures of effect were incidence rates ratio (IRR) and risk ratio (RR) adjusted for age, sex, and smoking habits in Poisson regression models with log links. Professionals, clerks, and administrative personnel constituted the reference group.
Results: The mean IR for common cold was 1.85. The following occupational groups showed increased risk of common cold: forestry and related workers (aIRR 2.21, 95% CI 1.15-4.24), construction and mining (aIRR 1.66, 95% CI 1.14-2.44) and metal workers (aIRR 1.37, 95% CI 0.99-1.91). The risk of lower respiratory tract infections was increased in the following groups: glass, ceramic, and mineral workers (aRR 3.83, 95% CI 2.54-5.77), fur and leather workers (aRR 2.12, 95% CI 1.05-4.29), and metal workers (aRR 1.82, 95% CI 1.05-3.14).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that the occurrence of respiratory infections is related to the occupation.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3186.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021