Multivariate logistic regression analysis of work-related respiratory symptoms as dependent variables and different types of farming, study centre, age, sex, smoking habits, full- or part-time work as predictor variables
| Type of farming | |||||
| Cattle only | Pigs only | Poultry only | Sheep only | Mixed farming | |
| n | 2732 | 853 | 104 | 93 | 2214 |
| Work-related respiratory symptoms | |||||
| Shortness of breath | |||||
| Prevalence % | 10.4 | 15.2 | 12.4 | 4.3 | 10.6 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.50 (1.18–1.92) | 1.03 (0.54–1.96) | 0.44 (0.16–1.25) | 1.00 (0.83–1.21) |
| Cough without phlegm | |||||
| Prevalence % | 14.0 | 20.0 | 15.2 | 9.7 | 16.2 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.78 (1.43–2.21) | 0.98 (0.55–1.75) | 0.68 (0.33–1.39) | 1.26 (1.08–1.48) |
| Cough with phlegm* | |||||
| Prevalence % | 13.4 | 18.7 | 9.0 | 15.7 | 15.8 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.28 (0.97–1.69) | 0.53 (0.25–1.14) | 1.03 (0.56–1.93) | 1.17 (0.97–1.42) |
| Wheezing | |||||
| Prevalence % | 6.9 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 10.8 | 7.8 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.54 (1.16–2.05) | 1.03 (0.51–2.09) | 1.57 (0.77–3.20) | 1.12 (0.90–1.40) |
| Nasal irritation* | |||||
| Prevalence % | 22.0 | 29.1 | 20.0 | 21.1 | 22.6 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.48 (1.17–1.88) | 1.12 (0.65–1.93) | 1.06 (0.61–1.83) | 1.07 (0.91–1.25) |
| Flu-like illness* | |||||
| Prevalence % | 14.8 | 22.6 | 14.0 | 21.1 | 18.6 |
| OR (95% CI) | 1 | 1.37 (1.05–1.78) | 0.67 (0.35–1.29) | 1.31 (0.74–2.31) | 1.19 (0.99–1.43) |
OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval. *: no data available in Niedersachsen.