Table 6 Comparison of non-smokers’ symptom changes in BHETSE compared to other bar workers’ studies

	% With symptoms, BHETSE study (n = 57)		% With symptoms, All Ireland Bar Study11 (n = 138)		% With symptoms, California study (n = 53)†
	Baseline	Follow-up	Baseline	Follow-up	Baseline	Follow-up
Respiratory symptoms
Median (IQR) number of symptoms	1 (0–2)	0 (0–2)	1 (0–2)	0 (0–2)**	NA	NA
Any symptom	54	39	65	49**	74	32**
Wheezing/whistling	25	21	21	20	32	15**
Shortness of breath	23	20	16	16	19	8*
Cough, morning	23	12*	21	15	53	23**
Cough, rest of day or night	35	23	38	25**	49	11**
Phlegm production	32	14**	43	29**	53	11**
Sensory symptoms
Median number of symptoms	2 (0–2)	1 (0–2)*	1 (0–2)	0 (0–1)**	NA	NA
Any symptom	74	60	67	45**	77	19**
Eyes, red or irritated	44	18**	41	14**	42	6**
Nose, runny or sneezing	54	51	44	35	60	15**
Throat, sore or scratchy	47	37	33	19**	25	13*

*p<0.1, **p<0.05, for follow-up versus baseline.
†The study of California bar workers10 includes data from smokers. Follow-up was within 8 weeks of baseline compared to 1 year for the BHETSE study and the All Ireland Bar Study.
IQR, interquartile range.