Occupational exposures in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Exposure to high levels of harmful agents in the workplace can significantly impact workers' health, contributing to morbidity and mortality. Levels of these exposures are often measured in high-income countries in research studies and, in some places, to monitor levels in line with health and safety regulations. However, less is known about workplace exposure levels in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Mortality risk associated with occupational exposures in people with small airways obstruction.

Background: Small airways obstruction (SAO) has been associated with occupational exposures. Whether exposure to harmful occupational agents impacts the survival of people with SAO is unknown. Our aim was to estimate the mortality risk associated with occupational exposures among people with SAO.

Isolated small airways obstruction predicts future chronic airflow obstruction: a multinational longitudinal study.

Background: Chronic airflow obstruction is a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We investigated whether isolated small airways obstruction is associated with chronic airflow obstruction later in life.

Methods: We used longitudinal data from 3957 participants of the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.

Occupational exposures and small airway obstruction in the UK Biobank Cohort.

Background: Small airways obstruction (SAO) is a key feature of both COPD and asthma, which have been associated with workplace exposures. Whether SAO, which may occur early in the development of obstructive lung disease and without symptoms, also associates with occupational exposures is unknown.

Methods: Using UK Biobank data, we derived measurements of SAO from the 65 145 participants with high-quality spirometry and lifetime occupational histories.

Identification of an increased lifetime risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in UK Biobank participants with scoliosis.

Background: Structural changes caused by spinal curvature may impact the organs within the thoracic cage, including the heart. Cardiac abnormalities in patients with idiopathic scoliosis are often studied post-corrective surgery or secondary to diseases. To investigate cardiac structure, function and outcomes in participants with scoliosis, phenotype and imaging data of the UK Biobank (UKB) adult population cohort were analysed.