title: Associations between infections and fatigue in a Dutch working population: results of the Maastricht Cohort Study on Fatigue at Work.
abstract: The relationship between fatigue and common infections was further explored, as part of a 3 year prospective cohort study on Fatigue at Work. The current study is based on seven successive questionnaires, covering the first 2 years of follow-up. The overall response at baseline was 45% (n = 12,140). On T1 10,592 (87.2% compared to baseline response) employees returned the questionnaire. For T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, 10,270 (84.6%), 9655 (79.5%), 8956 (73.8%), 8692 (71.6%) and 8070 (66.5%) employees respectively returned the questionnaire. Self-administered questionnaires were used to determine the level of fatigue with the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) and the occurrence of common cold, flu-like illness and gastroenteritis. Regression analysis using generalized estimated equations (GEE) were used for data analysis. We found a cross-sectional relationship between fatigue and the infections flu-like illness and gastroenteritis, and a longitudinal relationship between an infection as a predictor of fatigue. For fatigue as a predictor of an infection, we found odds ratios (ORs) of 1.35 (confidence interval (CI) 1.28-1.42) for flu-like illness and 1.33 (CI: 1.25-1.42) for gastroenteritis. The highest incidence of infections was found among employees who reported high fatigue levels on two successive occasions. The increased incidence of infections, is regarded as a substantial effect of fatigue because it is associated with significant absenteeism from work and leads to discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. dcl.mohren@epid.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mohren
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Swaen
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kant
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Borm
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Galama
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires