Occupational segregation as a determinant of US worker health.

Background: Racial segregation provides a potential mechanism to link occupations with adverse health outcomes.

Methods: An African-American segregation index (I(AA)) was calculated for US worker groups from the nationally representative pooled 1986-1994 National Health Interview Survey (n = 451,897). Ranking and logistic regression analyses were utilized to document associations between I(AA) and poor worker health.

Employment and occupation effects on depressive symptoms in older Americans: does working past age 65 protect against depression?

Objectives: This article examines the effects of work status, occupational sector, and occupation type on depressive symptoms in older Americans. We partially controlled for the healthy worker selection effect by including disability as a predictor of both work status and depressive symptoms.

Methods: We analyzed a nationally representative sample of 23,247 respondents aged 65 to 88 from the National Health Interview Survey pooled over 1997 to 2000.

Healthcare provider smoking cessation advice among US worker groups.

Objective: Among workers in dusty occupations, tobacco use is particularly detrimental to health because of the potential synergistic effects of occupational exposures (for example, asbestos) in causing disease. This study explored the prevalence of smoking and the reported smoking cessation discussion with a primary healthcare provider (HCP) among a representative sample of currently employed US worker groups.

Methods: Pooled data from the 1997-2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to estimate occupation specific smoking rates (n = 135,412).

Severity of concurrent visual and hearing impairment and mortality: the 1986-1994 National Health Interview Survey.

Purpose: Visual impairment and, to a lesser extent, hearing impairment are independent predictors of reduced survival in selected studies of community-residing adults. To date, the association of severity of concurrent impairment and mortality has not been examined.

Method: The National Health Interview Survey is a continuous, multistage, area probability survey of the U.

Smoking rate trends in U.S. occupational groups: the 1987 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey.

Objective: It is unknown if the gap in smoking rates observed between United States blue- and white-collar workers over the past four decades has continued into the new millennium.

Methods: The National Health Interview Survey is a nationally representative survey of the US civilian population. Smoking and current occupational status were assessed over survey periods 1987 to 1994 and 1997 to 2004 (n= 298,042).

Occupation and lung cancer mortality in a nationally representative U.S. Cohort: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of lung cancer mortality in a nationally representative sample of U.S. workers by occupation.

Morbidity ranking of U.S. workers employed in 206 occupations: the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 1986-1994.

Objective: The objective of this study was to rank U.S. occupations by worker morbidity.

Concurrent visual and hearing impairment and risk of mortality: the National Health Interview Survey.

Objective: To determine the association between reported concurrent visual and hearing impairment and risk of mortality.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Annual cross-sectional multistage area probability surveys of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population living at addressed dwellings were conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md. Mortality linkage with the National Death Index of participants from 1986 to 1994 was performed through 1997.

Prevalence of concurrent hearing and visual impairment in US adults: The National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2002.

Analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of US adults (n=195801) showed that concurrent hearing and visual impairment prevalence rates were highest for participants older than 79 years of age (16.6%); a 3-fold increase in age-adjusted rates of reported hearing and visual impairment was observed for Native Americans compared with Asian Americans. Research on preventing concurrent hearing and visual impairment and countering its consequences is warranted, especially in population subgroups, such as Native and older Americans.

Concurrent hearing and visual impairment and morbidity in community-residing adults: the National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 1996.

Objective: To examine the association between the presence and severity of concurrent hearing and visual impairment (HI+VI) and morbidity.

Methods: Data for adults 45 years and older were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 1996 (n = 60,997). Covariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between HI+VI and five morbidity indicators: restricted activity days, bed rest days, doctor visits, hospitalizations and self-rated health.

Obesity in US workers: The National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 2002.

Objectives: Obesity has emerged as one of the most important public health issues in the United States. We assessed obesity prevalence rates and their trends among major US occupational groups.

Methods: Self-reported weight and height were collected annually on US workers, aged 18 years or older, from the 1986 to 1995 and the 1997 to 2002 National Health Interview Surveys.

Visual impairment and morbidity in community-residing adults: the national health interview survey 1986-1996.

Purpose: To examine the association between visual impairment (VI) and morbidity.

Methods: Using pooled, annual population-based household interview survey data (n = 140,366) from the 1986-1996 National Health Interview Survey, covariate-adjusted, gender and age group specific logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between VI and five morbidity indicators: restricted activity days, bed rest days, doctor visits, hospitalizations, and self-rated health.

Results: After controlling for educational status, race and the number of reported non-ocular health conditions, fair or poor health status (compared to excellent, very good, or good health status) was generally more strongly associated with severe, bilateral VI (range of odds ratios [OR's]: 2.

Longest held job in U.S. occupational groups: the National Health Interview Survey.

Objective: We sought to assess the validity of using current or most recent occupation as surrogate for longest-held job (and its exposures).

Methods: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is an annual, probability, cross-sectional U.S.

Enhanced antinociception by nicotinic receptor agonist epibatidine and adrenal medullary transplants in the spinal subarachnoid space.

Adrenal medullary transplants in the spinal subarachnoid space can reduce nociception, via the release of catecholamines and other analgesic substances, and this may be enhanced by stimulation of transplanted chromaffin cell surface nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In addition, spinal nAChRs have been implicated in modulating nociception and can interact synergistically with alpha-adrenergic agents. Thus, enhanced antinociception by potent nAChR agonists such as frog skin derivative epibatidine in adrenal-transplanted animals could potentially occur via multiple mechanisms, including nicotinic-alpha-adrenergic synergy and stimulation of chromaffin cell nicotinic receptors.