Prevalence of work related symptoms (WRSs) among current workers and ex-employees
| Symptom category | Current nurses with WRSs (n=348) n (%) | Current nurses with WRSs exposed to GA (n=318) n (%) | Current nurses with WRSs exposed to SF (n=30) n (%) | Ex-employees with WRSs at time of endoscopy1-153 (n=18) n (%) |
| Chronic bronchitis1-150 | 4 (1.1) | 3 (0.9) | 1 (3.3) | 3 (16.7) |
| Persistent cough | 12 (3.5) | 10 (3.2) | 2 (6.6) | 10 (55.6) |
| Wheeze | 9 (2.6) | 8 (2.5) | 1 (3.3) | 8 (44.4) |
| Chest tightness | 17 (4.9) | 17 (5.3) | 0 | 10 (55.6) |
| Shortness of breath | 8 (2.3) | 7 (2.2) | 1 (3.3) | 7 (38.9) |
| Lower respiratory tract symptom1-151 | 30 (8.6) | 27 (8.5) | 3 (10.0) | 12 (66.6) |
| Nasal irritation1-152 | 67 (19.3) | 63 (19.8) | 4 (13.3) | 11 (61.1) |
| Eye irritation1-152 | 47 (13.5) | 43 (13.5) | 4 (13.3) | 9 (50.0) |
| No WRS | 243 (69.8) | 223 (70.1) | 20 (66.7) | 0 |
| Contact dermatitis | 157 (45.1) | 140 (44.0) | 17 (56.7) | 8 (44.4) |
↵1-150 Diagnosis defined as: cough daily for at least 3 months in 1 year for 2 consecutive years.
↵1-151 Any one of the lower respiratory tract symptoms: chronic bronchitis, persistent cough, wheeze, shortness of breath or chest tightness.
↵1-152 Symptom category as defined by questionnaire.
↵1-153 All ex-employees in the table stopped work for health reasons.