Table 4

Associations between occupational exposures and airway obstruction in the LifeLines and Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohorts

LifeLinesVlagtwedde-Vlaardingen
Exposure*Mild obstruction (FEV1/FVC<70%)Moderate/severe obstruction†Mild obstruction (FEV1/IVC<70%)Moderate/severe obstruction†
OR (95% CI)N‡p ValueOR (95% CI)N‡p ValueOR (95% CI)N‡p ValueOR (95% CI)N‡p Value
VGDF
 Non-exposedRef917Ref233Ref196Ref76
 Low1.08 (0.96 to 1.22)5780.1991.05 (0.84 to 1.31)1450.6621.22 (0.95 to 1.59)1670.1241.82 (1.27 to 2.60)890.001
 High1.41 (1.16 to 1.70)259<0.0011.39 (1.00 to 1.92)800.0471.29 (0.95 to 1.74)2760.1011.85 (1.23 to 2.79)1490.003
Gases/fumes
 Non-exposedRef985Ref251Ref227Ref97
 Low1.10 (0.98 to 1.24)6310.1161.03 (0.83 to 1.28)1640.7871.11 (0.87 to 1.42)3340.4011.45 (1.04 to 2.01)1820.028
 High1.44 (1.16 to 1.80)1380.0011.47 (1.02 to 2.11)430.0391.32 (0.92 to 1.89)780.1301.55 (0.95 to 2.53)350.081
Mineral dust
 Non-exposedRef1317Ref328Ref348Ref165
 Low1.19 (1.03 to 1.37)3310.0181.22 (0.95 to 1.56)910.1281.16 (0.87 to 1.54)1040.3181.29 (0.88 to 1.90)500.199
 High1.46 (1.11 to 1.92)1060.0071.76 (1.15 to 2.72)390.0101.10 (0.76 to 1.58)1870.6190.99 (0.61 to 1.61)990.972
Biological dust
 Non-exposedRef1196Ref314Ref324Ref141
 Low1.04 (0.92 to 1.18)4810.5020.99 (0.79 to 1.24)1210.9161.34 (1.04 to 1.73)2430.0221.74 (1.24 to 2.43)1370.001
 High0.91 (0.66 to 1.25)770.5500.77 (0.45 to 1.33)230.3451.25 (0.84 to 1.84)720.2711.54 (0.92 to 2.55)360.098
All pesticides
 Non-exposedRef1667Ref428Ref478Ref227
 Low0.83 (0.60 to 1.14)590.2411.15 (0.69 to 1.93)200.5951.33 (0.87 to 2.01)520.1851.08 (0.61 to 1.90)230.791
 High1.28 (0.79 to 2.09)280.3221.95 (0.92 to 4.13)100.0831.48 (1.04 to 2.10)1090.0291.78 (1.14 to 2.79)640.011
Herbicides
 Non-exposedRef1711Ref444Ref511Ref241
 Low1.04 (0.65 to 1.67)270.8721.11 (0.51 to 2.45)80.7911.29 (0.85 to 1.98)500.2351.60 (0.93 to 2.76)280.090
 High2.11 (1.03 to 4.30)160.0403.56 (1.28 to 9.88)60.0151.36 (0.93 to 2.00)780.1121.66 (1.02 to 2.69)450.040
Insecticides
 Non-exposedRef1675Ref430Ref494Ref237
 Low0.81 (0.58 to 1.15)510.2411.21 (0.70 to 2.09)180.4971.04 (0.64; 1.70)360.8670.66 (0.33 to 1.33)130.249
 High1.32 (0.81 to 2.16)280.2682.05 (0.96 to 4.35)100.0621.39 (0.98 to 1.98)1090.0671.62 (1.04 to 2.52)640.033
  • Statistically significant associations are depicted in bold.

  • Associations between occupational exposures (no/low/high) and mild (prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC<70%) and moderate/severe airway obstruction using logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, height, weight, ever smoking (no/yes) and (log) packyears smoked in the LifeLines and Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohorts. The analyses with VGDF, gases, fumes, mineral dust and biological dust were additionally adjusted for pesticide exposure, whereas the analyses with pesticides, herbicides and insecticides were additionally adjusted for VGDF exposure.

  • *Occupational exposures (no/low/high) were estimated based on job title and function using the ALOHA+ job exposure matrix. Non-exposed subjects were assigned as reference category (Ref).

  • †Moderate/severe airway obstruction=prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1<80%, without obstruction=prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC≥70% and FEV1≥80%. Subjects with mild obstruction (prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1≥80%predicted) or prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC≥70% and FEV1<80% predicted were excluded from this analysis (LifeLines n=1517 (13%) and Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen n=436 (18%)). For Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen: FEV1/IVC instead of FEV1/FVC.

  • ‡Number of subjects with obstruction.

  • VGDF, vapours, gases, dust and fumes.