Season of birth and lung fibrosis among workers exposed to asbestos.
The season of birth has been suggested to influence the development of some diseases, but its role in lung fibrosis seems to not have been studied previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the season of birth and fibrotic abnormalities as detected radiologically in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) among workers exposed to asbestos. The HRCT examination was performed on 528 study subjects. Multiple ordinal regression analysis adjusting for covariates was used to study the relations between birth month or season and radiological fibrosis signs. Subjects born in autumn or winter had more extensive fibrotic changes than those born in spring or summer. This applied to all fibrotic changes, apart from subpleural nodules, but only the overall fibrosis score, septal lines, and honeycombing showed statistically significantly higher values in comparison to spring births. The highest scores were detected among those born in autumn and winter months (September-February). These results suggest that there are differences in fibrotic radiological abnormalities according to the season of birth in adults exposed to asbestos. Several hypotheses could explain the observed findings, including the effects of early respiratory infections, cold temperature, and differences in air pollution levels, as well as some metabolic and hormonal effects.
Hannu
Timo
T
Department of Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. timo.hannu@ttl.fi
Jaakkola
Maritta S
MS
Kivisaari
Leena
L
Huuskonen
Matti S
MS
Vehmas
Tapio
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000506:poisoning*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002273:Carcinogens; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D036801:Parturition; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos