Elevated liver enzyme activity in construction workers: prevalence and impact on early retirement and all-cause mortality.

Background: Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) are widely used as markers of hepatobiliary disorders in occupational health surveillance. Little is known, however, about the prevalence and occupational and non-occupational determinants of elevated levels of these enzymes in specific occupational groups or about the prognostic value of elevated levels with respect to long-term outcomes such as all-cause mortality and vocational disability.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted among 8,043 male construction workers aged 25-64 years who had undergone occupational health examinations in 6 centers in southern Germany from 1986 to 1988 and had been followed until 1994.

[Improving the transition between medical and vocational rehabilitation].

In the framework of medical rehabilitation measures, cardiac patients' physical capacity was evaluated from an occupational medicine perspective, through vocational assessment in the workshops of a vocational retraining centre. Recommendations for vocational reintegration were derived on that basis, available at the end of the rehab measure for presentation to the financially responsible agency as a proposal for immediate implementation. The potential for actual realization of these proposals is further enhanced on account of preparatory clarification of the patients' motivational tendencies in individual and group talks.

Early retirement due to permanent disability in relation to smoking in workers of the construction industry.

Little is known about the relation of cigarette smoking and early retirement due to permanent disability. We conducted a cohort study among 4796 construction workers aged 40 to 59 who underwent occupational health examinations in 1986-1988 in occupational health centers located in the southern region of Germany. They were followed up with respect to working status until July 1994.

Body weight, pre-existing disease, and all-cause mortality in a cohort of male employees in the German construction industry.

The impact of body weight on all-cause mortality is subject to ongoing debate. We assessed the relation between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in a cohort of 8043 male employees in the German construction industry who underwent detailed occupational health examinations at ages 25-64 and who were followed for all cause mortality over an average period of 4.5 years.

Disorders of the back and spine in construction workers. Prevalence and prognostic value for disability.

Study Design: A cohort study on back-related morbidity and its impact on early retirement resulting from disability among employees in the construction industry.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of back-related morbidity according to different measures in various occupational groups and to assess the prognostic value of these measures for early retirement resulting from disability.

Methods: The results of occupational health examinations conducted in 1986-1988 among 4,958 employees of the German construction industry aged 40-64 years were analyzed.