Occupational titles as risk factors for Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND
Job title or employment sector may be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
In a case-control study, in four European centres, lifetime occupational histories were coded using modified International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) and Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). We employed multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, smoking and family history of PD.


RESULTS
A total of 649 cases and 1587 controls were recruited. Scottish data showed a non-significant increased risk for agriculture (DOT: OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.81-2.16; ISIC: OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.84-2.02) and reduced risk for 'transport and communication' (ISIC: OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.97). Subsequent four-centre analyses showed reduced risk for processing occupations (DOT: OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.5-0.95). An association with pesticide exposure, found using detailed exposure assessment, was not apparent using job classification.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to retrospective exposure assessment, job or industrial sector is a weak indicator of toxic exposures such that true associations may be missed.
Dick
Smita
S
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
Semple
Sean
S
Dick
Finlay
F
Seaton
Anthony
A
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors