Risk Factors for Animal-related Injury Among lowa Large-livestock Farmers: A Case-control Study Nested in the Agricultural Health Study

CONTEXT: Although farmers are at risk for injuries from contact with large livestock, few previous studies have examined risk factors for animal-related injuries. PURPOSE: This case-control study, nested in the Agricultural Health Study, aimed to assess risk factors for animal-related injury among Iowa large-livestock farmers. METHODS: A screener questionnaire sent to 6999 farmers identified 116 farmers with large livestock who had an animal-related injury requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year. Several possible risk factors for injury were assessed by comparing these farmers with 342 farmers who had livestock but were not injured in the previous year. FINDINGS: A multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between animal-related injury and the use of a hearing aid (odds ratio [OR] = 5.4 [95% CI, 1.6 to 18.0]), doctor-diagnosed arthritis or rheumatism (OR = 3.0 [95% CI, 1.7 to 5.2]), education beyond high school (OR = 1.8 [95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8]), and a younger age. Farmers engaged in off-farm work were less likely to sustain animal-related injuries (OR = 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.8]). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show associations between animal-related injury and a younger age, hearing difficulties, and doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Hearing loss and arthritis, which are more common among farmers than among other workers, may be particularly important risk factors to address in future preventive studies.     

Risk factors for machinery-related injury among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study

Farm machinery is a major cause of injury morbidity and mortality among farmers. This case-control study assessed risk factors for machinery-related injuries among Iowa farmers. A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 205 farmers who had machinery-related injuries requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year. Possible risk factors for injury were assessed among these farmers compared with 473 farmers with no injury in the previous year. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between machinery-related injury and hours per week spent on farmwork (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.38-2.94), fewer years of farming experience (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.14-2.79), wearing a hearing aid (OR = 4.37; 95% CI 1.55-12.25), and a high CAGE score suggesting problem drinking (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.00-6.19). This is the first study to show associations between machinery-related injury and hearing impairment, problem drinking, and fewer years of farming experience. These findings may be useful for future interventions to decrease injuries related to farm machinery.     

Risk Factors for Machinery-related Injury among Iowa Farmers: A Case-Control Study Nested in the Agricultural Health Study

Abstract

Farm machinery is a major cause of injury morbidity and mortality among farmers. This case-control study assessed risk factors for machinery-related injuries among Iowa farmers. A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 205 farmers who had machinery-related injuries requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year. Possible risk factors for injury were assessed among these farmers compared with 473 farmers with no injury in the previous year. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between machinery-related injury and hours per week spent on farmwork (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.38–2.94), fewer years of farming experience (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.14–2.79), wearing a hearing aid (OR = 4.37; 95% CI 1.55–12.25), and a high CAGE score suggesting problem drinking (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.00–6.19). This is the first study to show associations between machinery-related injury and hearing impairment, problem drinking, and fewer years of farming experience. These findings may be useful for future interventions to decrease injuries related to farm machinery.     

Analysis of the mechanisms of minor occupational injuries in the construction industry in Spain

OBJECTIVES: The construction industry produces the highest number of occupational injuries in Spain (25.6%). Of these, 98.5% were minor injuries with 5 million workdays lost in 2000. This occurred even after the recent introduction of numerous health and occupational safety regulations. The objective of the present study was to identify the specific mechanisms of minor occupational injuries in the construction sector. METHODS: In 2000, there were 235,853 minor occupational injuries in the construction industry. From these, injuries in general construction and civil engineering were selected (n = 155,044). These injuries affected both the total number of workers in the sector as well as bricklayers and unskilled construction workers. Insurance and financial activities (n = 2,019) were selected as a reference economic sector. Minor occupational injuries due to nontraumatic processes (heart attack, etc.) were taken as a control group (n = 167), assuming that the risk of nontraumatic processes was independent of economic activities. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted by age, sex, years of work experience, type of employment and company size through nonconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: The mechanisms with the highest risk of minor occupational lesions in construction workers as a group compared with employees in the financial sector were projection of fragments (OR = 33.0; 95% CI, 15.3-70.8) and being struck by objects (OR = 18.2; CI 95%, 9.7-34.1). These were also the most specific mechanisms of injury in the subgroup of bricklayers and unskilled construction workers. CONCLUSIONS: Activities aimed at preventing minor occupational injuries in the construction sector should be orientated towards these mechanisms, especially projection of fragments despite the low frequency of this mechanism compared with that of other mechanisms. Case-control design is a useful alternative approach for research into occupational injuries.     

陕西省成年人睡眠状况与糖尿病的关联研究

目的  探讨陕西省成年人睡眠时间和睡眠质量与糖尿病之间的关联,为糖尿病预防与控制提供依据。方法  通过多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法,选取2018年陕西省成人慢性病及危险因素监测项目中18岁及以上常住居民6 202人为研究对象,进行问卷调查、体格检查和实验室检测。通过多因素logistic回归分析模型分析睡眠时间和睡眠质量与糖尿病患病的独立和联合关联。结果  共纳入6 062名研究对象,糖尿病患病率为8.17%。多因素logistic回归分析模型分析结果显示,调整相关混杂因素后,与睡眠时间6~<8 h/d组相比,睡眠时间<6 h/d组(OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.07~1.78, P=0.014)和>8 h/d组(OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.05~1.52, P=0.015)患糖尿病的风险增大。与睡眠质量好组相比,睡眠质量差组(OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.09~1.61, P=0.005)患糖尿病的风险增大。将睡眠时间和质量组合后进一步分析结果显示,与睡眠时间6~<8 h/d且睡眠质量好组相比,睡眠时间<6 h/d且睡眠质量差组(OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.14~2.10, P=0.005)和睡眠时间>8 h/d且睡眠质量差组(OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.18~1.99, P=0.002)患糖尿病的风险增大。结论  睡眠时间异常和睡眠质量差均与糖尿病患病相关,且二者存在联合效应。     

近海石油生产工人职业压力与职业性意外伤害关系的探讨

目的　探讨近海石油生产中职业压力等社会心理因素与职业性意外伤害的关系。方法采用横断面设计 ,自填问卷方式 ,对 5 6 1名海上平台作业人员进行调查。内容包括 :一般情况、职业压力、A型性格、社会支持和应对措施等社会心理因素 ,以及过去 1年工作过程中发生意外伤害情况。结果　 76人 (13.5 % )报告过去 1年发生过 1次或 1次以上职业性意外伤害 ,共计 14 1人次 ,其中 18人次严重伤、2 6人次中度伤、97人次轻微伤。控制年龄、文化程度、婚姻状况、海上工作年限和工种等潜在混杂因素后的多因素logistic回归分析表明 ,感受“工作中的管理问题及与同事间的关系”压力越大 ,发生职业性意外伤害的危险性越高 (OR =1.33,95 %CI :1.0 5～ 1.6 8,P <0 .0 5 )。缺乏朋友情感支持者较少报告意外伤害 (OR =0 .37,95 %CI:0 .2 2～ 0 .6 3,P <0 .0 0 1)。结论　提示加强对工人的培训和工作指导 ,提倡同事间的相互合作和支持 ,对降低工作中职业性意外伤害的发生有着重要意义。     

Risk factors for falls among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study

BACKGROUND: Farmers are at increased risk for fall-related injury compared with other occupations. Little is known about risk factors for non-fatal falls on the farm. This case-control study, nested within the Agricultural Health Study, aimed to assess risk factors for work-related falls among Iowa farmers. METHODS: A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 79 farmers who reported a fall-related farm injury that required medical advice or treatment in the previous year. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess several possible risk factors for injury among these farmers compared with 473 farmers with no injury in the previous year. RESULTS: There were significant associations between fall-related farm injury and age between 40 and 64 years (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.20-4.07), doctor-diagnosed arthritis/rheumatism (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.11-3.79), difficulty hearing normal conversation (even with a hearing aid, in the case of those who used one) (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.07-3.08), and taking medications regularly (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.02-3.18). CONCLUSIONS: Aging and health impairments, such as arthritis and hearing difficulties, are risk factors for which accommodations and preventive strategies can be devised to prevent fall-related injuries on the farm.     

Machine-related occupational injuries in farm residents

Farm machinery is an important contributor to the high rates of occupational injury in agriculture. As part of a population-based case-control study, we studied risk factors for machine-related farm injuries. Case patients were farm residents residing in a geographically defined area of central Wisconsin who experienced a farm injury associated with a tractor, farm implement, or other machine which required medical or chiropractic care from May 1990 through April 1992. Controls were selected from an ad hoc census of farm residents in the same area. Telephone interviews regarding demographic characteristics, safety behaviors, and farming practices were completed for 97.8% of 90 case patients and for 82.8% of 221 control subjects. Personal characteristics significantly associated with an increased risk of machine-related injury included the number of hours worked per week and working primarily as a farmer. Dairy farms, farms with nonresident workers, and large farms were associated with an increased risk of injury while farms with registered cows and farms where cows were fed in the barn even in summer experienced fewer injuries. Based on a logistic regression model, the independent risk factors for machine-related farm injury included hours worked per week (2% increased risk/ nonresident workers on farm (odds ratio) (OR) = 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07 to 5.06), cows fed in barn in summer (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.64), and registered cows on farm (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.79). Farm safety practices did not appreciably influence the risk of machine-related farm injury.     

Characteristics of working hours and the risk of occupational injuries among hospital employees: a case-crossover study

Objectives:We investigated the association of working hours with occupational injuries in hospital shift work.Methods:Registry data of occupational injuries of hospital employees from 11 towns and 6 hospital districts were linked to daily payroll data to obtain working hours for 37 days preceding the first incidence of the injury (N=18 700). A case-crossover design and associated matched-pair interval analysis were used to compare working hour characteristics for three separate hazard windows among the same subjects. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results:We found an elevated risk of an occupational injury for workdays with evening shifts (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.14) and workdays following night shifts (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.17–1.52). After excluding commuting injuries, the risk increased during the evening shifts (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09–1.23) and the work days following night shifts (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.24–1.69), but was no more significant during the morning shifts. Injury risk increased following a week of ≥5 morning shifts or ≥3 evening shifts, but did not increase according to the number of preceding night shifts or quick returns. The length of the work shift (OR 1.22, CI 1.06–1.42) – not the length of the weekly working hours – was associated with an increased risk.Conclusions:The results indicate an increased occupational injury risk during the evening shifts and during work days following night shifts, with the risk increasing according to the number of evening but not night shifts.     

Lung cancer risk of workers in shoe manufacture and repair

BACKGROUND: The occupational lung cancer risk in manufacturing and repair of shoes was studied by pooling of two major case-control studies from Germany. METHODS: Some 4184 incident hospital-based cases of primary lung cancer and 4253 population controls, matched for sex, age, and region of residence were intensively interviewed with respect to their occupational and smoking history. Based on the occupational coding and a free text search, all individuals who had ever worked in shoe manufacturing or repair for at least half a year were identified. Shoemaker-years were calculated as the cumulated duration of working in shoe manufacturing or repair. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via conditional logistic regression. Additional adjustment for smoking and occupational asbestos exposure was used. RESULTS: Seventy-six cases and 42 controls who had ever worked in shoe manufacture or repair (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.29-2.78). After adjustment for smoking, this risk was lowered to 1.69 (95% CI: 1.09-2.62). Further adjustment for asbestos exposure only slightly changed the risk estimates upwards. The smoking adjusted OR in males was 1.50 (95% CI: 0.93-2.41) and 2.91 (95% CI: 0.90-9.44) in females. Logistic regression modeling showed a positive dose-effect relationship between duration of exposure in shoe manufacture and repair and lung cancer risk. The odds ratio for 30 years of exposure varied between 1.98 and 2.24 depending on the model specified. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates an increased lung cancer risk for shoemakers and workers in shoe manufacturing. The risk seems to double after being 30 years in these occupations.     

Occupations and breast cancer risk among Chinese women in urban Shanghai

BACKGROUND: Although, an elevated risk of breast cancer has been suggested for a number of occupations, many earlier studies were limited by selection biases, the incomplete assessment of job histories, and the inability to control for confounding. METHODS: We examined the relationship between occupational history and breast cancer risk using data from a population-based case-control study of 1,458 cases and 1,556 age-matched controls (90% response rate) conducted in Shanghai, China. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to derive odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of breast cancer risk associated with occupations and duration of employment adjusting for non-occupational risk factors. RESULTS: The following occupations were found to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer: laboratory technicians (OR 9.94, 95% CI 1.20-82.37), telephone and telegraph operators (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.85-11.59), leather and fur processors (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.11-9.53), and glass-manufacturing workers (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.14-3.82). A dose-response pattern for years of employment was observed for leather and fur processors (P = 0.02) and glass-manufacturing workers (P = 0.01). Stratified analyses also revealed dose-response relationships between the risk of breast cancer and years of employment as inspector and product analysts among pre-menopausal women (P = 0.02), and as farmers among post-menopausal women (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that several occupations are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer among women. Studies examining various occupational exposures in these high-risk occupations are warranted to identify carcinogens that may play a role in the increased breast cancer risk.     

焦炉作业工人外周血淋巴细胞染色体损伤的遗传易感性研究

目的研究外源性化学物代谢酶基因多态性与焦炉作业工人外周血淋巴细胞染色体损伤的关系。方法选取149名焦炉作业工人和24名非职业多环芳烃(PAH)暴露人员作为研究对象,测定其尿中1-羟基芘浓度来反映PAH暴露的内剂量;对照组的外周血淋巴细胞微核水平的上4分位数(6‰)作为判断个体染色体损伤阳性的界值;分析CYP1A1、GSTM1、GSTT1、GSTP1、CYP2E1、NQO1、NAT2和mEH基因的多态性;使用多元logistic回归方程校正职业暴露情况、年龄、性别、吸烟和饮酒状况因素,计算不同基因型工人发生染色体损伤阳性的OR值,并探讨基因间的交互作用。结果调整了173名研究对象的职业暴露、年龄、性别、吸烟和饮酒状况后,GSTM1缺失基因型个体染色体损伤危险度显著性增加(调整OR=2．01,95％CI=1．03—3.91);与NQO1基因P187S位点野生型纯合子个体比较,变异型纯合子个体染色体损伤危险度显著性增加(调整OR=3．18,95％CI=1．18—8．62);与mEH基因H113Y位点野生型纯合子个体比较,变异型纯合子个体染色体损伤危险度显著性降低(调整OR=0．40,95％CI=0.19～0．88);未发现其他基因的遗传变异与研究对象外周血淋巴细胞染色体损伤危险度的显著关联。此外,还发现GSTM1、NQO1基因P187S位点和mEH基因H113Y位点的遗传变异对染色体损伤危险度的影响中存在基因-基因交互作用。结论本研究发现GSTM1、NQO1和mEH基因的遗传变异可显著性影响职业PAH暴露个体外周血淋巴细胞染色体损伤危险度,并存在基因一基因交互作用。     

Occupation and adult gliomas

Lifetime job histories from a population-based, case-control study of gliomas diagnosed among adults in the San Francisco Bay area between August 1991 and April 1994 were evaluated to assess occupational risk factors. Occupational data for 476 cases and 462 controls were analyzed, with adjustment for age, gender, education, and race. Imprecise increased risks were observed for physicians and surgeons (odds ratio (OR) = 3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7, 17.6), artists (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 0.5, 6.5), foundry and smelter workers (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 0.5, 13.1), petroleum and gas workers (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 0.6, 42.2), and painters (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.5, 4.9). Legal and social service workers, shippers, janitors, motor vehicle operators, and aircraft operators had increased odds ratios only with longer duration of employment. Physicians and surgeons, foundry and smelter workers, petroleum and gas workers, and painters showed increased risk for both astrocytic and nonastrocytic tumors. Artists and firemen had increased risk for astrocytic tumors only, while messengers, textile workers, aircraft operators, and vehicle manufacturing workers showed increased risk only for nonastrocytic tumors. Despite study limitations, including small numbers for many of the occupational groups, a high percentage of proxy respondents among cases, and lack of specific exposure information, associations were observed for several occupations previously reported to be at higher risk for brain tumors generally and gliomas specifically.     

Associations of Work Stress,Supervisor Unfairness,and Supervisor Inability to Speak Spanish with Occupational Injury among Latino Farmworkers

Little is known about how psychosocial work factors such as work stress, supervisor fairness, and language barriers affect risk of occupational injury among Latino farmworkers. This study attempts to address these questions. Surveys were administered via interviews to 225 Latino thoroughbred farmworkers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of occupational injury in the past year in relation to occupational characteristics. Work stress (OR 6.70, 95% CI 1.84–24.31), supervisor unfairness (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.73), longer tenure at farm (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.13–6.34), and supervisor inability to speak Spanish (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.05–5.00) were significantly associated with increased odds of occupational injury. Due to the associations between work stress, supervisor unfairness, supervisor inability to speak Spanish and injury, supervisor training to improve Spanish language ability and equitable management practices is merited. Future research is needed to understand the antecedents of work stress for Latino farmworkers.     

Occupation and risk of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia have risen dramatically in incidence over the past few decades, however, little research has been conducted on the occupational risk factors for these cancers. METHODS: In this population-based case-control study, lifetime job histories were compared between cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 283), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (n = 259), and population controls (n = 689). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ever employment and by duration in various occupational and industrial categories were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma was elevated for persons ever employed in administrative support (OR = 1.5; 95%CI = 1.0-2.1); financial, insurance, and real estate (OR = 1.6; 95%CI = 1.0-2.4); and health services (OR = 2.2; 95%CI = 1.2-3.9). The risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma was increased among transportation workers (OR = 1.7; 95%CI = 1.1-2.6), as well as among carpenters (OR = 1.8; 95%CI = 0.9-3.9) and workers in the furniture manufacturing industry (OR = 2.4; 95%CI = 0.9-6.3). However, we observed few duration-response relations between length of employment in any category and cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations of esophageal adenocarcinoma with employment in administrative support, health services, and a category of financial, insurance, and real estate industries, and of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma with transportation and certain woodworking occupations. Some of these findings may be due to the play of chance associated with the multiple comparisons made in this study. Our results suggest that, overall, workplace exposures play a minor role in the etiology and upward trend of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas.     

Assessment of occupational eye injury risk and severity: an analysis of Rhode Island workers' compensation data 1998-2002

BACKGROUND: Occupational eye injuries have been recognized as a serious health risk to workers and are in need of further investigation to develop effective interventions. METHODS: Rhode Island workers' compensation claims of ocular injury between 1998 through 2002 (n=8,877) were examined. The Current Population Survey was used to estimate occupational employment levels as a baseline for rate calculations. RESULTS: The estimated ocular injury claim rate was 32.9 per 10,000 workers (95% CI=32.3-33.6), with the cost of claims totaling $1,514,666 and averaging $171 per claim. The highest estimated claim rate of all occupations was found for construction laborers of 373.7 per 10,000 workers (95% CI=267.1-480.3). Relative to the durable manufacturing industry, the highest risk of injury resulting in disability indemnification was the wholesale trade industry (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.19-4.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Many of the eye injuries reported were likely preventable. Greater diligence, training, and safety precautions are needed to reduce the risk of eye injury to employees.     

成都青羊区老年居民伤害的流行病学特征 及危险因素分析

摘要:目的　了解成都青羊区老年居民伤害的流行病学特征及潜在危险因素,为老年居民伤害事件的预防控制提供流行病学依据。方法　选取 2010-2014年于成都青羊区到哨点医疗机构就诊并被诊断为伤害的60岁以上患者监测资料,并采用二分类多元logistic回归分析。结果　根据分析模型老年居民严重伤害事件的高危人群为:75以上老年居民（OR＝1.36,95%CI:1.21～1.54）;非本市老年居民（OR＝1.41,95%CI:1.28～1.67）;仅接受小学教育者（OR＝1.28,95%CI:1.10～1.48）;伤害发生于冬季者（OR＝1.17,95%CI:1.02～1.33）;伤害为车祸者（OR＝1.67,95%CI:1.37～2.00）;伤害发生于有偿工作时（OR＝3.27,95%CI:1.96～5.43）;伤害发生于患者多部位（OR＝2.32,95%CI:1.84～2.93）;伤害后每延迟1 h就医,伤害事件就越可能更严重（OR＝1.04,95%CI:1.03～1.05）;其低危人群为:女性（OR＝0.81,95%CI:0.74～0.89）;有工作的老年居民（OR＝0.84,95%CI:0.75～0.94））;伤害非为骨折者（OR＝0.12,95%CI:0.11～0.15））,相反的也就是,男性,无业退休的老年居民,伤害为骨折的老年居民为其高危人群。结论　多个因素与老年居民严重伤害相关,我区应针对老年居民制定具体有效的卫生政策,降低老年居民伤害事件的发生率和严重程度。     

Sex differences in the associations of socioeconomic status with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in the elderly population: the KORA Survey 2000

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) with prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and known risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus were investigated in an elderly population. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out in 1354 randomly selected subjects (697 men, 657 women) aged 55-74 years in the population-based KORA Survey 2000, Augsburg, Germany. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for undiagnosed diabetes or IGT by education, occupation and income were estimated using logistic regression controlling for age, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, physical activity, smoking and alcohol intake. RESULTS: All three SES variables were significantly inversely related to body mass index, waist circumference and low physical activity in women (P < 0.05). In men, these associations were weaker or absent. Using the lowest category as reference, occupational status was significantly associated with undiagnosed diabetes in women (adjusted OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8) after controlling for risk factors in multivariate regression. The OR was also reduced with higher income in women (adjusted OR, diabetes: 0.7; 95% CI 0.5-1.03). Among men, no significant relations of the SES indicators with unknown diabetes were observed. However, the odds of having IGT was lower with higher occupational status in men (adjusted OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Undiagnosed type 2 diabetes was related to low SES defined by occupation or income in women only. In men, low occupational status was independently associated with higher IGT risk. Educational level was not related to glucose disorders in both sexes in the elderly population.     

Occupation, pesticide exposure and risk of multiple myeloma

OBJECTIVES: This population-based case-control study examined the relationship between occupation, living or working on a farm, pesticide exposure, and the risk of multiple myeloma. METHODS: The study included 573 persons newly diagnosed with myeloma and 2131 controls. Information was obtained on sociodemographic factors, occupational history, and history of living and working on a farm. Occupational and industrial titles were coded by standardized classification systems. A job-exposure matrix was developed for occupational pesticide exposure. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Farmers and farm workers had odds ratios of 1.9 (95% CI 0.8-4.6) and 1.4 (95% CI 0.8-2.3), respectively. An odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI 1.0-2.7) was observed for sheep farm residents or workers, whereas no increased risks were found for cattle, beef, pig, or chicken farm residents or workers. A modestly increased risk was observed for pesticides (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.8). Significantly increased risks were found for pharmacists, dieticians and therapists (OR 6.1, 95% CI 1.7-22.5), service occupations (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.02-1.7), roofers (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1-9.8), precision printing occupations (OR 10.1, 95% CI 1.03-99.8), heating equipment operators (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.4-15.8), and hand molders and casters (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0-8.4). CONCLUSIONS: A modest increased risk of multiple myeloma is suggested for occupational pesticide exposure. The increased risk for sheep farm residents or workers indicates that certain animal viruses may be involved in myeloma risk.