Symptoms related to the sick building syndrome in a general population sample: associations with atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
The sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term mainly applied to irritative symptoms in the eyes, skin and upper airways that are experienced in certain environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of subjects from the general population that report SBS-related symptoms.


METHODS
The study comprised a randomly selected population of 418 individuals aged 20-45 years. The subjects underwent a structured interview, skin prick tests, a methacholine provocation test and answered two questionnaires respectively assessing psychiatric status and the presence of SBS symptoms.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven subjects (21%) reported one or more SBS symptom weekly. Most common were general symptoms reported by 10% of the population. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1), atopy (OR = 2.2) and anxiety (OR = 2.6) were significant independent risk factors for reporting at least one SBS-related symptom. Anxiety (OR = 3.2) and depression (OR = 4.4) were significant predictors for general symptoms, while bronchial hyper-responsiveness was a significant predictor for pharyngeal symptoms (dryness in the throat, sore throat and irritating cough) (OR = 5.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Sick building symptoms are common in the general population and among women, while atopy and anxiety increase the risk of reporting such symptoms. Psychological factors are mainly related to general symptoms, while bronchial hyperresponsiveness is connected with pharyngeal symptoms.
Björnsson
E
E
Department of Lung Medicine and Asthma Research Centre, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Sweden. eythorbj@rsp.js
Janson
C
C
Norbäck
D
D
Boman
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome