Population characteristics, respiratory disease history, and self reported respiratory symptoms of construction workers study population and non-responders
| Study population (n=1335) | Non-responders (n=344) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD)* | n (%) | Mean (SD) | n (%) | |
| *Results expressed as mean (SD). | ||||
| †n.a., not asked. | ||||
| ‡Significantly different (χ2; p<0.05). | ||||
| 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. | ||