The purpose of this study was to determine occupations with elevated risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The association of COPD with occupations was estimated using two national morbidity and mortality databases. COPD morbidity and demographic variables were obtained from adult household interview data (n=20,024) of the 3rd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1988-1994. COPD morbidity data were based on the respondents' self-reported physician diagnoses. COPD mortality was from multiple causes of death data files, 1987-1996, available annually from the National Center for Health Statistics. These mortality data files include demographic variables, multiple causes of death coded by ICDA 9th version, and usual occupation and industry codes, but no information on smoking. COPD prevalence was estimated across occupation and smoking status using the Survey Data Analysis software. The propotionate mortality ratio (PMR) analysis was used to determine associated occupational risk for COPD mortality. PMRs for COPD were internallly age-adjusted. Occupations with highly elevated prevalence of COPD include material distributing clerks (19.5%), cooks (18.3%), cleaning services (17.1%), textile mill products (16.8%), and health service occupations (15.0%). PMRs for COPD were highest among blue-collar occupations including mining machine operators followed by drillers, machine operators, roofers, and molding machine operators. These findings provide information useful for developing prevention and intervention strategies to reduce COPD in the workplace.
Keywords: Occupational Health, Occupational Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.