Risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a large historical cohort of Danish firefighters
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Risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a large historical cohort of Danish firefighters. / Pedersen, Julie Elbæk; Ugelvig Petersen, Kajsa; Ebbehøj, Niels Erik; Bonde, Jens Peter; Hansen, Johnni.
In: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 75, No. 12, 2018, p. 871-876.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a large historical cohort of Danish firefighters
AU - Pedersen, Julie Elbæk
AU - Ugelvig Petersen, Kajsa
AU - Ebbehøj, Niels Erik
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Hansen, Johnni
N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Firefighters are exposed to numerous respiratory hazards, but large studies on the risk of pulmonary disease are scarce. The objective of this study was to examine incidence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a nationwide cohort of Danish firefighters.METHODS: We used individual historical employment records on 11 968 Danish male firefighters primarily supplied by trade unions and fire agencies. Furthermore, we used the Supplementary Pension Fund Register to form an occupational reference group consisting of military employees. Information on respiratory incidence was retrieved from the nationwide Danish National Patient Registry. Age and calendar time standardised incidence ratio (SIR) and Poisson regression analyses (incidence rate ratio) were used for estimation of risks, including 95% CIs.RESULTS: Compared with military employees, the overall age and calendar-time adjusted risk for asthma was significantly increased among full-time firefighters (SIR=1.58, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.88), but not among part-time/volunteer firefighters. Full-time firefighters' risk for asthma did not vary by duration of employment. No consistent evidence of an increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was detected.CONCLUSION: Danish firefighters have an increased risk of asthma, but the causes, whether occupational or not, remain to be established.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Firefighters are exposed to numerous respiratory hazards, but large studies on the risk of pulmonary disease are scarce. The objective of this study was to examine incidence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a nationwide cohort of Danish firefighters.METHODS: We used individual historical employment records on 11 968 Danish male firefighters primarily supplied by trade unions and fire agencies. Furthermore, we used the Supplementary Pension Fund Register to form an occupational reference group consisting of military employees. Information on respiratory incidence was retrieved from the nationwide Danish National Patient Registry. Age and calendar time standardised incidence ratio (SIR) and Poisson regression analyses (incidence rate ratio) were used for estimation of risks, including 95% CIs.RESULTS: Compared with military employees, the overall age and calendar-time adjusted risk for asthma was significantly increased among full-time firefighters (SIR=1.58, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.88), but not among part-time/volunteer firefighters. Full-time firefighters' risk for asthma did not vary by duration of employment. No consistent evidence of an increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was detected.CONCLUSION: Danish firefighters have an increased risk of asthma, but the causes, whether occupational or not, remain to be established.
U2 - 10.1136/oemed-2018-105234
DO - 10.1136/oemed-2018-105234
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30323012
VL - 75
SP - 871
EP - 876
JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
SN - 1351-0711
IS - 12
ER -
ID: 216558479