Age (years) | 42.0 (7.8) | | 42.9 (8.8) | |
Height (cm) | 179 (7.2) | | n.a.† | |
Employment in the construction industry (years) | 19.1 (9.5) | | n.a. | |
Gender, % females | | 2 (0.15%) | | 0 (0%) |
Individuals with reported exposure to mineral dust | | 1268 (95%) | | 268 (78%)‡ |
Current smokers | | 667 (50%) | | 187 (54%) |
Ex-smokers | | 397 (30%) | | 90 (27%) |
Pack-years | 13.3 (13.0) | | n.a. | |
Did you ever have the following diseases or have you been told that you had them? |
Bronchitis | | 161 (12%) | | 20 (6%)‡ |
Emphysema | | 5 (0.4%) | – | |
Tuberculoses or pleurisy | | 25 (1.9%) | | 2 (0.6%) |
Selected respiratory symptoms |
Chronic cough (longer than three months in the past two years) | | 174 (13%) | | 64 (19%)‡ |
Chronic cough with sputum (longer than three months in the past two years) | | 134 (10%) | | 30 (9%) |
Shortness of breath during normal activity | | 124 (9%) | | 30 (9%) |
Ever wheezing | | 337 (25%) | n.a. | |
Frequent wheezing (longer than one week in the past two years) | | 134 (10%) | n.a. | |
Shortness of breath during wheezing | | 100 (7%) | n.a. | |
Ever attacks of asthma? | | 117(9%) | n.a. | |