Morbidity ranking of U.S. workers employed in 206 occupations: the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 1986-1994.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to rank U.S. occupations by worker morbidity.


METHODS
From 1986 through 1994, morbidity information was collected on over 410,000 U.S. workers who participated in the National Health Interview Survey, an annual household survey representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. A multivariate adjusted logistic regression morbidity summary score was created for each worker group based on seven indicators: days of restricted activity, bedrest, and missed work in the previous 2 weeks; doctor visits and hospitalizations in the previous 12 months; reported health conditions; and health status.


RESULTS
Worker groups reporting the greatest morbidity included social workers, inspectors, postal clerks, psychologists, and grinding machine operators; worker groups reporting the least morbidity included dentists, pilots, physicians, pharmacists, and dietitians.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings aid in the identification of worker groups that require increased attention for morbidity research and prevention.
Departments of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069 (R-699), Miami, FL 33101, USA. dlee@med.miami.edu
David J
DJ
Lee
Lora E
LE
Fleming
Orlando
O
Gómez-Marín
William G
WG
LeBlanc
Kristopher L
KL
Arheart
Alberto J
AJ
Caban
Sharon L
SL
Christ
Katherine
K
Chung-Bridges
Terry
T
Pitman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology