TY - JOUR T1 - Adult-onset asthma and occupational exposures JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PY - 1999/10VL - 25 IS - 5 SP - 430 EP - 435 AU - Torén, Kjell AU - Järvholm, Bengt AU - Brisman, Jonas Brisman AU - Hagberg, Stig AU - Hermansson, B-A AU - Lillienberg, Linnéa M3 - doi: 10.5271/sjweh.456 UR - https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=456 KW - asthma KW - epidemiology KW - questionnaire KW - retrospective study N2 - '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'This study examined certain occupational exposures and the risk for adult-onset asthma.'

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METHODS ': 'A nested case-referent study of adult-onset asthma was performed on a random population sample (N=15 813), aged 21 to 51 years. Cases for the study included 2 groups: subjects reporting "physician-diagnosed" asthma (N=251) and a broader "asthma" group (N=362). The "asthma" group consisted of subjects with "physician-diagnosed" asthma (N=251) and subjects reporting asthma-like symptoms without having "physician-diagnosed" asthma (N=111). The referents (N=2044) were randomly selected from the whole population sample. The case-referent sample was investigated with a comprehensive questionnaire about occupational exposures, asthma, respiratory symptoms, smoking, and atopy. Odds ratios were calculated with stratification for gender, year of diagnosis, and birth year.'

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RESULTS ': 'The highest odds ratio for "physician-diagnosed" asthma was associated with exposure to flour dust [odds ratio (OR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5--5.2] and the occupational handling of resin-based paints (isocyanates) (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6--5.9). Exposure to welding fumes, textile dust, and work with glues containing acrylates was also associated with an increased odds ratio for "physician-diagnosed" asthma. Including persons with asthma-like symptoms (ie, the asthma group) showed similar results.'

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CONCLUSION ': 'This population-based case-referent study from Sweden indicates that occupational exposure to acrylate-based compounds and welding fumes is associated with increased risk for adult-onset asthma.

SN - 0355-3140 ER -