The medical and social prognosis of Sick Building Syndrome : a follow-up study focusing on female patients

• A follow-up questionnaire focusing medical and social status, actions taken and personality traits was sent to 239 patients with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) registered at the University Hospital in Umea, Sweden. The response rate was 79 percent. As females constituted 92 percent of the respondents all statistical analyses were restricted to women. Almost half of the respondents had been exposed to environments with visible water damages. Fatigue, irritated eyes and facial erythema were the most common symptoms. Nearly half of the patients claimed that the symptoms were more or less unchanged after 7 years or more. Twenty-five percent of the patients were on the sick-list and twenty percent drew disability pension due to SBS-symptoms at follow-up. Symptoms were often aggravated in different situations in everyday life. No important deviations concerning personality factors were found. The results support that early and comprehensive measures for rehabilitation are essential for these patients.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Miljöanalys och bygginformationsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Environmental Analysis and Construction Information Technology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Keyword

sick building syndrome

follow-up

triggering factors

questionnaire

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)