Respiratory Health in Cleaners in Northern Europe: Is Susceptibility Established in Early Life?

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

There is some evidence that maternal smoking increases susceptibility to personal smoking's detrimental effects. One might question whether early life disadvantage might influence susceptibility to occupational exposure.

Objectives

In this cross-sectional study we investigated respiratory symptoms, asthma and self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as related to working as a cleaner in Northern European populations, and whether early life factors influenced susceptibility to occupational cleaning's unhealthy effects.

Methods

The RHINE III questionnaire study assessed occupational cleaning in 13,499 participants. Associations with respiratory symptoms, asthma and self-reported COPD were analysed with multiple logistic regressions, adjusting

SUBMITTER: Svanes O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4500550 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature