title: COPD and occupational exposures: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence demonstrates that occupational exposures are causally linked with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This case-control study evaluated the association between occupational exposures and prevalent COPD based on lifetime occupational history.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases (n = 388) aged 45 years and older with COPD were compared with controls (n = 356), frequency matched on age, sex, and cigarette smoking history. Odds ratios for exposure to each of eight occupational hazard categories and three composite measures of exposure were computed using logistic regression. RESULTSOccupational exposures most strongly associated with COPD were diesel exhaust, irritant gases and vapors, mineral dust, and metal dust. The composite measures describing aggregate exposure to gases, vapors, solvents, or sensitizers (GVSS) and aggregate exposure to dust, GVSS, or diesel exhaust were also associated with COPD. In the small group of never-smokers, a similar pattern was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These population-based findings add to the literature linking occupational exposures to COPD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon 97227, USA. sheila.weinmann@kpchr.org
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinmann
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heumann
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hnizdo
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villnave
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doney
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McBurnie
authors.forename: A Sonia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Buist
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust