| Variables | Nursing professionals(n = 448) | Other health care professionals(n = 3186) |
| n (%) | n (%) | |
| Age in years (mean, SD) | 48.6 (10.7) | 44.9 (12.0) |
| Less than 30 | 18 (4.1) | 311 (10.0) |
| 30 to less than 45 | 145 (33.0) | 1360 (43.6) |
| 45 to less than 60 | 213 (48.5) | 1121 (35.9) |
| 60 and above | 63 (14.4) | 327 (10.5) |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 39 (8.8) | 1114 (35.5) |
| Female | 403 (91.2) | 2028 (64.5) |
| Ethnicity | ||
| Non-Hispanic | 380 (89.2) | 2624 (85.4) |
| Hispanic | 46 (10.8) | 449 (14.6) |
| Atopy | ||
| No | 356 (83.4) | 2540 (83.5) |
| Yes | 71 (16.6) | 502 (16.5) |
| Smoking status | ||
| Non-smoker | 282 (63.7) | 2101 (66.7) |
| Current smoker | 56 (12.6) | 273 (8.7) |
| Ex-smoker | 105 (23.7) | 777 (24.7) |
| Body mass index | ||
| Normal (<25.0) | 176 (40.3) | 1429 (46.0) |
| Overweight (25.0–29.9) | 140 (32.0) | 1061 (34.1) |
| Obese (30 and above) | 121 (27.7) | 620 (19.9) |
| Seniority | ||
| First quartile (mean 6.6 years) | 62 (14.0) | 977 (31.1) |
| Second quartile (mean 13.8 years) | 95 (21.4) | 714 (22.7) |
| Third quartile (mean 22.5 years) | 121 (27.3) | 775 (24.6) |
| Fourth quartile (mean 36.2 years) | 165 (37.3) | 681 (21.6) |
| Reported asthma | ||
| No | 404 (90.2) | 3032 (95.2) |
| Yes | 44 (9.8) | 154 (4.8) |
| BHR-related symptoms | ||
| No | 255 (68.7) | 1896 (72.6) |
| Yes | 116 (31.3) | 715 (27.4) |
BHR, bronchial hyper-responsiveness.