title: Quality of life in relation to upper and lower respiratory conditions among retired 9/11-exposed firefighters with pulmonary disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and World Trade Center (WTC) cough syndrome conditions in male firefighters who retired due to a 9/11-related pulmonary disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 3/1/2008 to 1/31/2009, we contacted 275 disability-retired firefighters and compared their HRQoL and current aerodigestive conditions to those from WTC-exposed non-disabled retired and active firefighters. Relationships between HRQoL and explanatory variable(s) were examined using multivariable linear regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean physical component summary (PCS) scores were lowest in disabled retirees compared with non-disabled retirees and actives: 36.4 (9.6), 49.4 (8.7), and 53.1 (5.1), respectively (P < 0.0001). Mean mental component summary (MCS) scores were closer: 44.5 (11.9), 48.1 (8.5), and 48.7 (7.4), respectively (P < 0.0001). In multivariable models, after adjustment for many factors, PCS scores were not associated with early WTC arrival, but were inversely associated with disability retirement and all WTC cough syndrome conditions. MCS scores were inversely associated with early WTC arrival and most WTC cough syndrome conditions, but were not associated with disability retirement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WTC cough syndrome conditions predict lower HRQoL scores even 8 years after exposure, independent of retirement status. These data suggest that monitoring physical conditions of individuals with occupational exposures might help identify those at risk for impaired HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. amy.berninger@gmail.com
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berninger
authors.forename: Mayris P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weakley
authors.forename: Jackson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gustave
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeig-Owens
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Fairouz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Othman
authors.forename: Hillel W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Prezant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008171:Lung Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012179:Retirement; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile