Smoking differences between employees in faculties of the University of Tartu, Estonia, and changes during the country's transition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A previous study found marked differences in smoking between employees in various university faculties in Tartu, Estonia, soon after the disruption of communism. The present study was conducted to see whether such differences still exist and how the patterns had changed during the country's first transitional decade.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All employees at the University of Tartu (UT) were surveyed for smoking habits by means of a questionnaire in 1992 and 2003. The present paper is based on respondents whose faculty or workplace was known (1390 people in 1992, 1790 in 2003). Smoking differences were assessed in terms of regression-based adjusted figures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>While 20% of the male employees smoked daily in 1992, 13% did so in 2003, the figures for females being 10% and 7%, respectively. The prevalence of men's daily smoking varied between faculties and other workplaces in the range 4-30% in 1992, and 0-24% in 2003, with corresponding ranges of 3-21% and 0-10% among females. Men in the medical faculty in both surveys, and those in the faculty of philosophy in the second survey showed higher rates than men in most other faculties, as did women in the faculty of law in the first survey and those in the faculty of philosophy in the second. The figures were usually low in the faculties of sports & exercise, physics & chemistry and mathematics. The sex pattern was reversed in the faculty of law and also in that of economics, where the women smoked more than the men.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Even in this low-smoking academic community, wide smoking differences existed between the faculties and other workplaces. Faculties where physical or mental performance is of prime importance are leading the way towards a smoke-free community, while men in the faculty of philosophy and, paradoxically, men in the medical faculty are lagging behind. The reversed sex ratio in the faculties of law and economics may indicate women's intensified drive for equality in this transitional society. We assume that different professional cultures may introduce variations in smoking patterns, thereby modifying the course of the smoking epidemic.</p

Self-Assessed Threshold Temperature for Cold among Poultry Industry Workers in Thailand

The self-assessed threshold temperature for cold in the workplace is not well known. We asked 392 chicken industry workers in Thailand what they regard as the cold threshold (CT) and compared subgroups of workers using linear and quantile regressions by CT sextiles (percentiles P17, P33, P50, P67, and P83, from warmest to coldest). The variables of interest were sex, office work, and sedentary work, with age, clothing thermal insulation, and alcohol consumption as adjustment factors. The mean CT was 14.6 ◦C. Office workers had a 6.8 ◦C higher mean CT than other workers, but the difference ranged from 3.8 ◦C to 10.0 ◦C from P17 to P83. Sedentary workers had a 2.0 ◦C higher mean CT than others, but the difference increased from 0.5 ◦C to 3.0 ◦C through P17–P83. The mean CT did not differ between sexes, but men had a 1.6–5.0 ◦C higher CT at P17–P50 (>20 ◦C) and a 5.0 ◦C lower CT at P83 ( 0.35 m/s) worksites. We conclude that office, sedentary, and female workers and those working at warm, dry, and draughty sites are sensitive to the coldest temperatures, whereas male workers are sensitive even to moderate temperatures

Low mortality from ischaemic heart disease in the Sámi district of Finland

Mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is compared between the Sámi (Lapp) and Finnish areas of northern Finland. During the period 1961-1990 male mortality from IHD was 41% lower in the predominantly Sámi area (Utsjoki) and 37% and 24% lower in two partially Sámi areas (Enontekiö and Inari, respectively) than in the purely Finnish reference area (Kittilä). The corresponding differences for females were 47%, 36% and 19%. Mortality figures diverged over time, the excess mortality increasing in the areas having the greatest percentages of Finns in their population and the deficit increasing in the area where the percentage of Sámi was greatest. The trends observed were paradoxical, since the risk factor pattern in the Sámi district is highly unfavourable, and the Finnicization of the Sámi in recent years should imply a convergence of mortalities rather than a divergence. It is concluded that the epidemic wave of IHD in Finland, which culminated in the early 1970s, showed a time lag in the north, especially in the Finnish and predominantly Finnish areas, while there is no indication that this epidemic ever reached Utsjoki, the core Sámi area. The reasons for the anomalous trends in IHD in the far north of Finland remain unknown, but the local diet may play a role in them.ischaemic heart disease ethnic group regional variation temporal trends Finland

Prenatal Exposures to Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Serum Lipids at Ages 7 and 15 in Females

Background In some cross-sectional epidemiologic studies the shape of the association between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and lipids suggests departures from linearity. Objectives We used statistical approaches allowing for non-linearity to determine associations of prenatal exposures of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with lipid concentrations. Methods PFAAs were measured in serum from pregnant women collected in 1991–1992 at enrollment in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and lipids in serum from their daughters at ages 7 (n = 111) and 15 (n = 88). The associations of PFAAs with lipids were first explored by cubic splines, followed by piecewise linear regressions by tertiles to obtain regression coefficients (β) and their 95% confidence limits (95% CL) (in mg/dL per 1 ng/mL). Results At age 7, total cholesterol was positively associated with prenatal PFOA concentrations in the lower tertile (β = 15.01; 95% CL = 2.34, 27.69) but not with PFOA concentrations in the middle (β = − 3.63; 95% CL = − 17.43, 10.16) and upper (β = − 1.58; 95% CL = − 4.58, 1.42) tertiles. At age 15, a similar pattern was noted as well. Positive associations between LDL-C and prenatal PFOA concentration in the lower tertile were observed in daughters at ages 7 (β = 14.91; 95% CL = 3.53, 28.12) and 15 (β = 13.93; 95% CL = 0.60, 27.26). LDL-C was not associated with PFOA concentrations in the middle or upper tertile at any age. Neither HDL-C nor triglycerides was associated with prenatal PFOA exposure. Non-linear patterns of association of total cholesterol and LDL-C with prenatal PFOS were less consistently noted. Conclusion Exposure to low levels of PFOA during prenatal development may alter lipid metabolism later in life. Given the small sample size further replication of the association in large independent cohorts is important

Diverse age-incidence patterns of atopic sensitization in an unselected Finnish population up to 12 years

Abstract Background: The temporal sequence in which allergic sensitization to different allergens emerges is not well characterized at the level of general population. Objective: We describe the incidence patterns of atopic sensitization to different allergens from birth up to 12 years of age in an unselected Finnish population. Methods: The study population comprised all children born between 2001 and 2006 identified from the nationwide population register as residents of the province of South Karelia, Finland (n = 5564). The results of allergy tests (22,380 results from skin prick tests, immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibodies, and open food challenges [OFCs], performed in 1827 children) were collected from patient records of all the health care units in the area. Results: The incidence rates of positive results for food and animal allergens as well as positive OFCs for cow’s milk showed prominent peaks at 5 months of age. Positive results for pollen allergens started to emerge after 1.5 years of age. The 12-year cumulative incidence of sensitization to food, animal, pollen, and any allergens was 12%, 8%, 10%, and 18%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of sensitization to house dust mites was 1% and to molds or latex less than 1%. Firstborn boys had the highest, and those who were not firstborn girls and children born in rural municipalities had the lowest early incidence of sensitization to inhalation allergens. Conclusion: In the unselected population, the atopic sensitization against food and animal allergens began before 6 months of age and was followed by sensitization to pollen allergens before 2 years of age. Primary prevention of sensitization to food and inhalation allergens should therefore occur in early infancy

Active commuting and work ability: A cross-sectional study of chicken meat industry workers in Thailand

There is ample evidence regarding positive health effects of cycling or walking to work (active commuting [AC]). However, little is known about the effects of AC on work ability. Therefore, we examined 422 Thai chicken meat industry workers who assessed their current work ability (CWA) compared to their lifetime best by assigning scores ranging from 0 to 10. The CWA was compared between active and non-active commuters using linear regression, cumulative distributions, and quantile regression. Overall, 46 workers (11%) were active commuters. The average CWA score was 8.2 (standard deviation, 1.3; range, 4–10). It was higher by 0.5 units (95% confidence interval: 0.2–0.8) in active commuters. Cumulative distributions showed higher CWA scores among active commuters throughout the CWA scale, with the greatest difference (one CWA unit) at scores of 8–9. This benefit of AC persisted after adjustments and was observed at the 33rd, 50th, and 67th percentiles of CWA but not at percentiles higher or lower than the aforementioned ones. The model-predicted CWA scores for selected combinations of personal and work-related factors were up to two units higher among active commuters. In conclusion, active commuters have better work ability than non-active commuters. However, the potential effects may be limited to workers with good work ability. Relevance to the industry: Since commuting is a necessary daily activity for most of the working population, AC may offer great potential to produce positive effects on work ability and health. AC should be encouraged and included in health promotion programs at national and organizational levels