title: Breath-taking jobs: a case-control study of respiratory work disability by occupation in Norway.
abstract: The current knowledge on respiratory work disability is based on studies that used crude categories of exposure. This may lead to a loss of power, and does not provide sufficient information to allow targeted workplace interventions and follow-up of patients with respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to identify occupations and specific exposures associated with respiratory work disability.
  
  
  
  In 2013, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of the general population, aged 16-50, in Telemark County, Norway. We defined respiratory work disability as a positive response to the survey question: 'Have you ever had to change or leave your job because it affected your breathing?' Occupational exposures were assessed using an asthma-specific job-exposure matrix, and comparison of risks was made for cases and a median of 50 controls per case.
  
  
  
  247 workers had changed their work because of respiratory symptoms, accounting for 1.7% of the respondents ever employed. The 'breath-taking jobs' were cooks/chefs: adjusted OR 3.6 (95% CI 1.6 to 8.0); welders: 5.2 (2.0 to 14); gardeners: 4.5 (1.3 to 15); sheet metal workers: 5.4 (2.0 to 14); cleaners: 5.0 (2.2 to 11); hairdressers: 6.4 (2.5 to 17); and agricultural labourers: 7.4 (2.5 to 22). Job changes were also associated with a variety of occupational exposures, with some differences between men and women.
  
  
  
  Self-report and job-exposure matrix data showed similar findings. For the occupations and exposures associated with job change, preventive measures should be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Fell
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway Faculty Division Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Henneberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torén
authors.affiliation: Faculty Division Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kongerud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: exposures; job-exposure matrix; occupation; respiratory symptoms; respiratory work disability