ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A multi-employer database that links medical, prescription drug, absence, and short term disability data at the patient level was analyzed to uncover the most costly physical and mental health conditions affecting American businesses. A unique methodology was developed involving the creation of patient episodes of care that incorporated employee productivity measures of absence and disability. Data for 374,799 employees from six large employers were analyzed. Absence and disability losses constituted 29% of the total health and productivity related expenditures for physical health conditions, and 47% for all of the mental health conditions examined. The top-10 most costly physical health conditions were: angina pectoris; essential hypertension; diabetes mellitus; mechanical low back pain; acute myocardial infarction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; back disorders not specified as low back; trauma to spine and spinal cord; sinusitis; and diseases of the ear, nose and throat or mastoid process. The most costly mental health disorders were: bipolar disorder, chronic maintenance; depression; depressive episode in bipolar disease; neurotic, personality and non-psychotic disorders; alcoholism;, anxiety disorders; schizophrenia, acute phase; bipolar disorders, severe mania; nonspecific neurotic, personality and non-psychotic disorders; and psychoses. Implications for employers and health plans in examining the health and productivity consequences of common health conditions are discussed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesRecall the reported effects of exposure to styrene and noise on the cochlear hair cells and hearing function in rats.Describe which possible confounding factors were and were not controlled for in this study, and what the results indicate about the respective ototoxic effects on humans of exposure to styrene and noise.Characterize the effects in humans of isolated and combined exposure to styrene and noise.Ototoxicity of styrene and the synergistic action of styrene and noise have been shown in rats. The respective data in humans are scarce and equivocal. This study evaluated the effects of occupational exposure to styrene and combined exposures to styrene and noise on hearing. The study group, comprised of 290-yacht yard and plastic factory workers, was exposed to a mixture of organic solvents, having styrene as its main compound. The reference group, totaling 223 subjects, included (1) white-collar workers, exposed neither to solvents nor noise and (2) metal factory workers, exposed exclusively to noise. All subjects were assessed by means of a detailed questionnaire and underwent otorhinolaryngological and audiometric examinations. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed almost a 4-fold (or 3.9; 95% CI = 2.4–6.2) increase in the odds of developing hearing loss related to styrene exposure. The factors adjusted for were: age, gender, current occupational exposure to noise, and exposure to noise in the past. In cases of the combined exposures to styrene and noise, the odds ratios were two to three times higher than the respective values for styrene-only and noise-only exposed subjects. The mean hearing thresholds—adjusted for age, gender, and exposure to noise—were significantly higher in the solvent-exposed group than in the unexposed reference group at all frequencies tested. A positive linear relationship existed between an averaged working life exposure to styrene concentration and a hearing threshold at the frequencies of 6 and 8 kHz. This study provides the epidemiological evidence that occupational exposure to styrene is related to an increased risk of hearing loss. Combined exposures to noise and styrene seem to be more ototoxic than exposure to noise alone.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesExplain why contrast sensitivity was used as a measure of visual function in this study of organic solvent exposure in the print industry.Recall when visual function was tested in relation to solvent exposure.Summarize the findings of this study and their implications for the role of contrast sensitivity testing of printers exposed to solvent mixtures in the course of their work.Contrast sensitivity measurement accurately evaluates the sensitivity of all human visual channels, even in a more detailed manner than simple acuity measures can. This is a study of visual contrast sensitivity in a series of subjects occupationally exposed to organic solvents. Contrast sensitivity was measured for 42 printers and 28 age-stratified controls using the Vistech VCTS 6500 chart. The exposed workers distinguished between following three groups of printers: “low exposed,” “middle exposed,” and “high exposed.” Abnormal contrast sensitivity results were recorded for the right eye in 38% of the printers and 11% of the controls and for the left eye in 38% of the printers and 7% of the controls. Especially, we found a reduced contrast sensitivity in all three groups exposed to solvents for both eyes. We conclude that contrast sensitivity is abnormal in workers exposed to organic solvents. The reduced contrast sensitivity in printers seems to be an indicator of visual defects induced in response to organic solvents exposure.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesIdentify the reasons for doing this study and recall what past studies suggest about the relation between paternal occupation and infant birth weight.Summarize the findings for the two chief parameters considered in this study: mean birth weight and the prevalence of low birth weight.Appraise the importance of various non-occupational factors that might have influenced the study findings.Agricultural occupation has been associated with different reproductive outcomes. This study examined the relation between mean birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and paternal occupation in 1995–1998. Births and late fetal deaths were analyzed (n = 1097,817). Paternal occupation was grouped into four categories: professionals and managerial; clerical, sales and service; manual; and agricultural workers. We estimated the difference between the MBW and the prevalence ratio of LBW in each occupational group as compared to the group of professionals and managerial workers. The adjusted difference in the MBW of the children of each occupational category was −8.9 g, −17.2 g, and 16.9 g, respectively. The adjusted prevalence ratio for LBW was 1.04, 1.08, and 0.91. Our results suggest a higher birth weight and lower prevalence of LBW in children of fathers who are agricultural workers.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Farmworkers are exposed to pesticides and may take home pesticide residues to their families. In this paper, self-reported pesticide exposure and home practices to reduce the amount of pesticide residues taken home were examined among 571 farmworkers. Urine samples from a subsample of farmworkers and children and dust samples from households and vehicles also assessed pesticide exposure. Overall, 96% of respondents reported exposure to pesticides at work. Many employers did not provide resources for hand washing. Farmworkers’ protective practices to keep pesticide residues out of the home were at a low level. In a subset of respondents, pesticide levels above the limit of quantitation were seen in the urine of children and adults and in house and vehicle dust. The results support the take-home pathway of pesticide exposure. Ways must be found to reduce this pesticide exposure among children of farmworkers.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID