title: Italy and Argentina compared: an epidemiological study of occupational diseases.
abstract: The research presented in this paper analyses the clinic-pathological manifestations and work-related health risks identified among outpatients treated in the hospitals of Rome and Buenos Aires.
  
  
  
  The occupational anamnestic data were collected between 2013 and 2014 through questionnaires with specific items aimed at detecting occupational diseases classified by target organ systems in outpatient clinics of cardiology, dermatology, physical medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, endocrinology (thyroid and gonads). An inferential statistical analysis was then carried out to evaluate the relationship between nationality, exposure to occupational risks and the prevalence and incidence of the selected pathologies. An univariate statistical analysis was performed for this purpose and, in the case of statistically significant results, a subsequent multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the incidence of occupational risk factors and nationality on the pathology diagnosed in conjunction with other confounding factors such as smoking habits and gender. The total sample consisted of 1090 subjects of both sexes. Risks were grouped into seven categories and diseases into 12 diagnostic groups. We analyzed the correlation between risks and diseases with respect to hospital outpatients and to the total sample then comparing Argentina and Italy's data.
  
  
  
  Analysis of data revealed a higher prevalence of hypertension and dysmetabolic disorders for DSE (Display Screen Equipment) workers both in Italy and Argentina; however, multivariate analysis showed that smoking represents a confounding factor for this association. A higher prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was found in the population samples of Rome and there appeared to be a correlation between eye disorders/defects and Argentine data source.
  
  
  
  Our study suggests the usefulness of collecting occupational anamnestic data from outpatient departments to highlight possible associations between occupational risks, lifestyles and pathologies, so as to implement the appropriate prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Occupational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Sio
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Occupational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, IFO-Institute San Gallicano-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristaudo
authors.affiliation: Department of Organs of Sense, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.affiliation: Echocardiology Research Unit Cardiothoracic Dept. Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitarelli
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Occupational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandolesi
authors.affiliation: Catedra Libre salude y Seguridad en el trabajo, Universidad de Beunos Aires.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balladore
authors.affiliation: Catedra Libre salude y Seguridad en el trabajo, Universidad de Beunos Aires.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nieto
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Argentina; Italy; Occupational diseases; Outpatient departments