Mortality Associated With Occupational Exposure in Helsinki, Finland—A 24-Year Follow-up. Issue 1 (6th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jalasto, Juuso; Luukkonen, Ritva; Lindqvist, Ari; Langhammer, Arnulf; Kankaanranta, Hannu; Backman, Helena; Rönmark, Eva; Sovijärvi, Anssi; Kauppi, Paula; Piirilä, Päivi
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 65:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2023-01-06
• Subjects: asthma -- COPD -- Finland -- prospective study -- general population cohort -- causes of death -- airborne occupational exposure -- job-exposure matrix -- postal questionnaire -- chronic lower airway disease; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : This paper studies the possible combined effect of occupational exposure and chronic airway disease to all-cause and respiratory related mortality in a longitudinal study setting. The results suggest that occupational airborne exposure increases mortality and is even more harmful for those with asthma and COPD coexistence. Abstract : Objectives: Our objective was to study mortality related to different obstructive lung diseases, occupational exposure, and their potential joint effect in a large, randomized population-based cohort. Methods: We divided the participants based on the answers to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnoses and occupational exposure and used a combined effects model and compared the results to no asthma or COPD with no occupational exposure. Results: High exposure had a hazards ratio (HR) of 1.34 (1.11–1.62) and asthma and COPD coexistence of 1.58 (1.10–2.27). The combined effects of intermediate exposure and coexistence had an HR of 2.20 (1.18–4.09), high exposure with coexistence of 1.94 (1.10–3.42) for overall mortality, and sub-HR for respiratory-related mortality of 3.21 (1.87–5.50). Conclusions: High occupational exposure increased overall but not respiratory-related mortality hazards, while coexisting asthma and COPD overall and respiratory-related hazards of mortality.