Factors affecting outdoor exposure in winter: population-based study.
The extent of outdoor exposure during winter and factors affecting it were examined in a cross-sectional population study in Finland. Men and women aged 25-74 years from the National FINRISK 2002 sub-study (n=6,591) were queried about their average weekly occupational, leisure-time and total cold exposure during the past winter. The effects of gender, age, area of residence, occupation, ambient temperature, self-rated health, physical activity and education on cold exposure were analysed. The self-reported median total cold exposure time was 7 h/week (8 h men, 6 h women),<1 h/week (2 h men, 0 h women) at work, 4 h/week (5 h men, 4 h women) during leisure time and 1 h/week (1 h men, 1.5 h women) while commuting to work. Factors associated with increased occupational cold exposure among men were: being employed in agriculture, forestry and industry/mining/construction or related occupations, being less educated and being aged 55-64 years. Factors associated with increased leisure-time cold exposure among men were: employment in industry/mining/construction or related occupations, being a pensioner or unemployed, reporting at least average health, being physically active and having college or vocational education. Among women, being a housewife, pensioner or unemployed and engaged in physical activity increased leisure-time cold exposure, and young women were more exposed than older ones. Self-rated health was positively associated with leisure time cold exposure in men and only to a minor extent in women. In conclusion, the subjects reported spending 4% of their total time under cold exposure, most of it (71%) during leisure time. Both occupational and leisure-time cold exposure is greater among men than women.
Mäkinen
Tiina M
TM
Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, University of Oulu, Finland. tiina.makinen@oulu.fi
Raatikka
Veli-Pekka
VP
Rytkönen
Mika
M
Jokelainen
Jari
J
Rintamäki
Hannu
H
Ruuhela
Reija
R
Näyhä
Simo
S
Hassi
Juhani
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003081:Cold Climate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors