| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Gunnbjornsdottir, M. I., et al.
(author)
-
Obesity and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux are related to onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms
- 2004
-
In: Eur Respir J. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). ; 24:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population. In a 5-10 yr follow-up study of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia, a postal questionnaire was sent to previous respondents. A total of 16,191 participants responded to the questionnaire. Reported onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms as well as nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring increased in prevalence along with the increase in body mass index (BMI). After adjusting for nocturnal GOR, habitual snoring and other confounders, obesity (BMI >30) remained significantly related to the onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms. Nocturnal GOR was independently related to the onset of asthma and in addition, both nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring were independently related to onset of wheeze and night-time symptoms. This study adds evidence to an independent relationship between obesity, nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux and habitual snoring and the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bergdahl, I A, et al.
(author)
-
Increased mortality in COPD among construction workers exposed to inorganic dust.
- 2004
-
In: European Respiratory Journal. - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 23:3, s. 402-406
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to find out if occupational exposure to dust, fumes or gases, especially among never-smokers, increased the mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cohort of 317,629 Swedish male construction workers was followed from 1971 to 1999. Exposure to inorganic dust (asbestos, man-made mineral fibres, dust from cement, concrete and quartz), gases and irritants (epoxy resins, isocyanates and organic solvents), fumes (asphalt fumes, diesel exhaust and metal fumes), and wood dust was based on a job-exposure matrix. An internal control group with "unexposed" construction workers was used, and the analyses were adjusted for age and smoking. When all subjects were analysed, there was an increased mortality from COPD among those with any airborne exposure (relative risk 1.12 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.22)). In a Poisson regression model, including smoking, age and the major exposure groups, exposure to inorganic dust was associated with an increased risk (hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 (95% CI 1.06-1.14)), especially among never-smokers (HR 2.30 (95% CI 1.07-4.96)). The fraction of COPD among the exposed attributable to any airborne exposure was estimated as 10.7% overall and 52.6% among never-smokers. In conclusion, occupational exposure among construction workers increases mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even among never-smokers.
|
|
| 4. |
- Ringsberg, K.C., et al.
(author)
-
Differences in trigger factors and symptoms between patients with asthma-like symptoms and patients with asthma : Development of a basis for a questionnaire
- 2002
-
In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 96:5, s. 305-311
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with asthma-like symptoms but with negative asthma tests are often misdiagnosed as having asthma and treated as asthmatics. They describe their trigger factors and symptoms very similar to those of patients with asthma. The aim of the study was to analyze differences in symptoms and trigger factors between asthma-like patients and asthmatics in order to elaborate a basis for a questionnaire for epidemiological and clinical use. A questionnaire with 54 questions about trigger factors and 137 questions about symptoms was sent to 40 patients with asthma-like symptoms and 40 with asthma, all consecutively selected from patients referred to an out-patient clinic for asthma and allergy for investigation of suspected asthma. Data were analyzed statistically in two steps using multiple logistic regression analysis. Significant differences were seen in several trigger factors and symptoms after the first analysis. After the second analysis, seven out of the 54 trigger factors and 22 out of the 137 symptoms emerged as those that most significantly discriminated between the two patient groups. These trigger factors and symptoms can be the basis of a new questionnaire with high discriminating power. Before using it, it is important to evaluate the best combination of variables, add some demographic variables and to test the reliability and validity of this new questionnaire. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.
|
|
| 5. |
- Torén, A, et al.
(author)
-
Tractor-driving hours and their relation to self-reported low-back and hip symptoms.
- 2002
-
In: Appl Ergon. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 33:2, s. 139-46
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Tractor driving might be one causal risk factor in the incidence of low-back and hip symptoms among farmers. Information on the annual exposure to tractor driving and its distribution among different work operations is scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify the total and the annual time driving tractors among Swedish farmers and its distribution into different work operations, and to investigate the risk of low-back and hip symptoms in relation to tractor driving within different work operations. The data were collected from a questionnaire study sent to all farms with acreage more than 10 ha in a county in Sweden. Farmers having farming and/or forestry as their main occupation in 1995 were included in the analysis. The annual tractor-driving time and the percentage distribution within different work operations were calculated for females, males, the total group and four production groups. The risk calculations for low-back and hip symptoms from the variables related to tractor driving were performed on the total group. The results showed that the mean annual tractor-driving time was 472 h. Ploughing was the single most time-consuming work operation but it had no influence on the risk for low-back or hip pain. The results showed that some of the variables investigated related to tractor driving influenced the risk for low-back and hip symptoms.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Franklin, K. A., et al.
(author)
-
The influence of active and passive smoking on habitual snoring
- 2004
-
In: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. ; 170:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The impact of active smoking, passive smoking, and obesity on habitual snoring in the population is mainly unknown. We aimed to study the relationship of habitual snoring with active and passive tobacco smoking in a population-based sample. A total of 15,555 of 21,802 (71%) randomly selected men and women aged 25-54 years from Iceland, Estonia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden answered a postal questionnaire. Habitual snoring, defined as loud and disturbing snoring at least 3 nights a week, was more prevalent among current smokers (24.0%, p < 0.0001) and ex-smokers (20.3%, p < 0.0001) than in never-smokers (13.7%). Snoring was also more prevalent in never-smokers exposed to passive smoking at home on a daily basis than in never-smokers without this exposure (19.8% vs. 13.3%, p < 0.0001). The frequency of habitual snoring increased with the amount of tobacco smoked. Active smoking and passive smoking were related to snoring, independent of obesity, sex, center, and age. Ever smoking accounted for 17.1% of the attributable risk of habitual snoring, obesity (body mass index >/= 30 kg/m(2)) for 4.3%, and passive smoking for 2.2%. Smoking, both current and ex-smoking, is a major contributor to habitual snoring in the general population. Passive smoking is a previously unrecognized risk factor for snoring among adults.
|
|
