The incidence of respiratory symptoms in female Swedish hairdressers.
BACKGROUND
Airway diseases in hairdressers are a concern. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the risk for three respiratory symptoms, wheeze, dry cough, and nasal blockage, in hairdressers.


METHODS
A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, atopy, smoking, and work history was answered by 3,957 female hairdressers and 4,905 women from the general population as referents. Incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the three symptoms were estimated.


RESULTS
The IRs of all three studied symptoms were higher in the hairdressers compared with the referents. Smoking modified the effects of cohort affiliation for all three symptoms; the combined effect from hairdressing work and smoking was less than expected. In addition, the effect of cohort affiliation for wheeze was also modified by atopy, and the effect of cohort affiliation for nasal blockage was also modified by calendar year.


CONCLUSIONS
Hairdressing work was associated with increased incidences of respiratory symptoms. Smoking had a negative modifying effect.
Brisman
Jonas
J
Institute of Internal Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. jonas.brisman@ymk.gu.se
Albin
Maria
M
Rylander
Lars
L
Mikoczy
Zoli
Z
Lillienberg
Linnéa
L
Höglund
Anna Dahlman
AD
Torén
Kjell
K
Meding
Birgitta
B
Diab
Kerstin Kronholm
KK
Nielsen
Jørn
J
D000328:Adult; D001505:Beauty Culture; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D015994:Incidence; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology