Agreement between fixed-ratio and lower limit of normal spirometry interpretation protocols decreases with age: is there a need for a new GOLD standard?

Objectives: To assess concordance between the fixed 70% ratio cutoff point with the fixed percent predicted values (Fixed-ratio) and the lower limit of normal (LLN) algorithms in interpreting spirometry results in an older population.

Methods: Spirometries were interpreted using Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reference equations for 2319 workers.

Results: The Fixed-ratio algorithm characterized 34.

Risk and significance of chest radiograph and pulmonary function abnormalities in an elderly cohort of former nuclear weapons workers.

Objective: To estimate prevalence and risk factors for International Labour Organization radiographic abnormalities, and assess relationship of these abnormalities with spirometry results in former Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers.

Methods: Participants were offered chest x-ray (CXR) and lung function testing. Three occupational medicine physicians read CXRs.

Risk of beryllium sensitization in a low-exposed former nuclear weapons cohort from the Cold War era.

Background: The nuclear weapons industry has long been known as a source of beryllium exposure.

Methods: A total of 1,004 former workers from a nuclear weapons assembly site in the Midwest were screened for sensitization to beryllium (BeS). The screenings were part of the Department of Energy (DOE) Former Worker Program established in 1996.

Prevalence of beryllium sensitization among Department of Defense conventional munitions workers at low risk for exposure.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of beryllium sensitization among former and current Department of Defense workers from a conventional munitions facility.

Methods: Participants were screened by using Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test. Those sensitized were offered clinical evaluation for chronic beryllium disease.

Farm activities associated with eye injuries in the Agricultural Health Study.

Farmers are at risk for work-related eye injuries, some of which can be very serious. This study describes the farm activities that were related to eye injury in a group of 36 Iowa farmers in the Agricultural Health Study who sustained 40 farmwork-related eye injuries requiring medical advice or treatment. Farm activities of grinding or cutting metal accounted for 11 (27.

Occupational injuries among workers with diabetes: the National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2005.

Objective: To assess associations between diabetes and occupational injury.

Methods: Data from the 1997 to 2005 National Health Interview Survey comprised a sample of 195,284 adult workers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed associations between diabetes and occupational injuries, adjusting for age, sex, race, and education.

Occupational and non-occupational injuries in the United States Army: focus on gender.

Background: The differences in occupational and non-occupational injuries between military men and women have not been documented. This study compares occupational and non-occupational injuries between male and female United States Army soldiers by examining injury hospitalization rates and characteristics.

Methods: The U.

Characteristics of crashes with farm equipment that increase potential for injury.

Context: Crash fatality and injury rates are higher on rural roadways than other roadway types. Although slow-moving farm vehicles and equipment are risk factors on rural roads, little is known about the characteristics of crashes with farm vehicles/equipment.

Purpose: To describe crashes and injuries for the drivers of farm vehicles/equipment and non-farm vehicles involved in an injury crash.

A comparison of self-reported hearing and pure tone threshold average in the Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Survey.

Background: Self-reported hearing measures are useful for surveying hearing loss in a population because they are short, and easy to administer by either questionnaire or telephone. This study aims to assess the performance of several self-reported hearing measures to identify hearing loss in a group of Iowa farmers.

Methods: The study subjects were 98 male farmers who participated in the Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Survey.

Cost of compensated injuries and occupational diseases in agriculture in Finland.

Although agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries, the costs of agricultural injuries and illnesses are not well known. This study aimed to determine the cost burden from compensated injuries and occupational diseases in Finnish agriculture using workers compensation records. The incidence rates in 1996 were 7.

Sleep quantity and quality as a predictor of injuries in a rural population.

This study aimed to assess the association of sleep disturbance and injuries in a rural population of Iowa. Study participants were 1345 adults who were enrolled in the KCRHS. Sleep problems were assessed based on self-reports at the beginning of the study.

Hearing loss as a risk factor for agricultural injuries.

Background: Previous studies suggested that hearing impairment based on self-report might increase the risk of agricultural injuries. However, self-reported hearing measures may be subject to inaccuracy and subjective perception. We assessed the association of agricultural injuries with hearing loss and other hearing characteristics using measured hearing.

Effects of premium discount on workers' compensation claims in agriculture in Finland.

Background: The objective of this study was to measure changes in injury claim rates after a premium discount program was implemented in the Finnish farmers' workers' compensation insurance. We focused on measures that could indicate whether the changes occurred in the true underlying injury rate, or only in claims reporting.

Methods: Monthly injury claim rates were constructed at seven disability duration levels from January 1990 to December 2003.

Comparison of farmers in the agricultural health study to the 1992 and the 1997 censuses of agriculture.

Context: The Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is a large, prospective cohort study in the states of Iowa and North Carolina that has been developed to better understand how pesticides and other agricultural exposures relate to the occurrence of cancer and other diseases.

Purpose: This report compares the characteristics of AHS farmers to the Census of Agriculture to evaluate the generalizability of AHS findings.

Methods: We restricted the AHS to private pesticide applicators who enrolled in Iowa (n = 31,065) and in North Carolina (n = 17,239) between 1993 and 1997, and who identified themselves as living or working on a farm.

Risk factors for falls among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study.

Background: Farmers are at increased risk for fall-related injury compared with other occupations. Little is known about risk factors for non-fatal falls on the farm. This case-control study, nested within the Agricultural Health Study, aimed to assess risk factors for work-related falls among Iowa farmers.

Workplace accommodations for people with disabilities: National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement, 1994-1995.

As American workers age, workers with impairments and functional limitations make up a larger percentage of our workforce. This investigation presents data from the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement 1994-1995 (NHIS-D) describing the nature of workplace accommodations in the American workforce and factors associated with the provision of such accommodations. Of a nationally representative sample of workers aged 18 to 69 years with a wide range of impairments, 12% reported receiving workplace accommodations.

Risk factors for animal-related injury among Iowa large-livestock farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study.

Context: Although farmers are at risk for injuries from contact with large livestock, few previous studies have examined risk factors for animal-related injuries.

Purpose: This case-control study, nested in the Agricultural Health Study, aimed to assess risk factors for animal-related injury among Iowa large-livestock farmers.

Methods: A screener questionnaire sent to 6999 farmers identified 116 farmers with large livestock who had an animal-related injury requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year.

Risk factors for machinery-related injury among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study.

Farm machinery is a major cause of injury morbidity and mortality among farmers. This case-control study assessed risk factors for machinery-related injuries among Iowa farmers. A screener questionnaire sent to 6,999 farmers in 1998 identified 205 farmers who had machinery-related injuries requiring medical advice/treatment in the previous year.

Health risk factors among Iowa farmers.

This study compares the prevalence of the health risk factors for chronic disease and injury among farmers with their prevalence among other workers, using data from the Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. From January 1999 to December 1999, there were 3,620 adults who participated in the survey. This report focuses on the 2,140 subjects who reported they were working.

Workforce participation by persons with disabilities: the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement, 1994 to 1995.

Using the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement of 1994 to 1995, we examined the factors associated with employment among Americans with disabilities. Persons with disabilities who were more educated were more likely to be working. Married men were more likely to work than unmarried men (odds ratio [OR], 1.