Risk factors associated with asthma phenotypes among supermarket bakery workers in multivariate models
| AA | NAA | WAA | Probable OA | Probable OA | ||
| Atopic | Nonatopic | |||||
| Prevalence | 29 (6)# | 29 (6)# | 13 (3)# | 60 (13)# | 42 (22)¶ | 18 (7)+ |
| Determinants | ||||||
| Family history of asthma | 1.53 (0.55–4.26) | 0.76 (0.22–2.65) | 1.91 (0.50–7.33) | 1.06 (0.49–2.28) | 0.95 (0.37–2.42) | 0.95 (0.20–4.43) |
| Atopy | 1.23 (0.41–3.76) | 4.15 (2.29–7.53)*** | ||||
| Polysensitisation (>3 aeroallergens) | 6.28 (2.72–14.52)*** | 2.54 (0.65–9.93) | 5.54 (2.78–11.03)*** | |||
| Past medical history | ||||||
| Childhood onset (<17 yrs) asthma | 2.20 (0.68–7.11) | 1.81 (0.49–6.75) | 2.75 (0.54–13.95) | 2.13 (0.81–5.62) | 2.08 (0.69–6.27) | |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | 0.57 (0.07–4.46) | 2.06 (0.64–6.62) | 4.07 (0.99–16.64) | 1.92 (0.77–4.79) | 2.90 (0.80–10.51) | 1.53 (0.31–7.51) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 1.81 (0.39–8.40) | 2.59 (0.69–9.74) | 4.47 (0.89–22.49) | 2.01 (0.71–5.70) | 1.94 (0.46–8.22) | 2.44 (0.46–12.84) |
| Recurrent childhood chest infections | 1.21 (0.27–5.55) | 2.91 (0.89–9.53) | 5.46 (1.02–29.17)* | 0.81 (0.23–2.77) | 2.27 (0.48–10.66) | |
| Upper airway symptoms | ||||||
| Ocular–nasal symptoms | 2.44 (1.12–5.29)* | 0.51 (0.21–1.25) | 2.91 (0.92–9.20) | 6.02 (3.26–11.11)*** | 4.48 (1.97–10.23)*** | 7.11 (2.39–21.09)*** |
| Work-related ocular–nasal symptoms | 1.56 (0.72–3.39) | 0.73 (0.30–1.78) | 4.30 (1.34–13.77)* | 3.13 (1.78–5.49)*** | 2.51 (1.21–5.19)* | 3.53 (1.27–9.81)* |
| Age of first exposure to flour dust allergens | 1.16 (1.01–1.33)* | 0.99 (0.91–1.09) | 1.01 (0.89–1.16) | 1.00 (0.94–1.07) | 0.99 (0.92–1.08) | 1.00 (0.91–1.10) |
| 21–30 yrs§ | 1.93 (0.70–5.31) | 1.64 (0.56–4.82) | 8.66 (0.97–77.28) | 1.04 (0.51–2.12) | 1.08 (0.45–2.62) | 1.23 (0.28–5.42) |
| >30 yrs | 3.09 (0.51–18.71) | 1.72 (0.34–8.78) | 1.30 (0.05–34.96) | 0.65 (0.20–2.04) | 0.46 (0.10–2.22) | 0.99 (0.13–7.59) |
| Previous episodes of high exposure causing asthma symptoms | 1.43 (0.51–4.00) | 2.33 (0.87–6.22) | 5.77 (1.74–19.15)** | 2.80 (1.43–5.52)** | 2.70 (1.07–6.83)* | 3.61 (1.15–11.30)* |
| Current job statusƒ | ||||||
| Baker | 0.37 (0.11–1.18) | 0.50 (0.17–1.46) | 0.10 (0.01–1.18) | 1.57 (0.66–3.74) | 2.14 (0.78–5.88) | 1.68 (0.14–20.77) |
| Confectioner | 0.29 (0.05–1.74) | 0.49 (0.09–2.65) | 0.93 (0.11–8.20) | 1.12 (0.27–4.60) | 0.51 (0.06–4.56) | 4.86 (0.30–78.05) |
| Supervisor/manager | 0.39 (0.06–2.35) | 0.34 (0.02–5.98) | 4.01 (1.28–12.59)* | 5.41 (1.26–23.15)* | 7.48 (0.49–115.05) | |
| Self-reported ingestion-related adverse reactions to grain products | 6.35 (2.03–19.83)** | 2.66 (0.56–12.65) | 13.43 (2.23–80.83)** | |||
| Baking activities at home | 0.53 (0.22–1.28) | 0.46 (0.19–1.13) | 0.73–0.22–2.44) | 1.11 (0.63–1.94) | 1.63 (0.79–3.34) | 0.72 (0.26–2.02) |
Data are presented as n (%) or OR (95% CI). AA: atopic asthma; NAA: nonatopic asthma; WAA: work-aggravated asthma; OA: occupational asthma. #: out of a total of 457; ¶: out of a total of 188; +; out of a total of 269; §: age category ≤20 yrs used as reference category; ƒ: counterhands used as reference group. *: p<0.05; **: p<0.01; ***: p<0.001. Each odds ratio is a separate regression model adjusted for age, sex and smoking status.