PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Tüchsen

Publications and source records attributed to F Tüchsen.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc in male professional drivers in Denmark, 1981-1990. A longitudinal study of hospitalizations.

STUDY DESIGN: This study of professional drivers is a part of a longitudinal record linkage study of all economically active men in Denmark, identified on January 1, 1981. Information about the main occupation was identified in 1980. The cohort was followed for first hospitalization with prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc until December 31, 1990. OBJECTIVES: To examine the risk of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc in all Danish professional drivers, and to analyze exposures of the male drivers in a sample of all Danish male drivers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Only a few studies on occupation and prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc have been published. These studies suggest that professional driving may be a risk factor for development of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc. Drivers are exposed to whole-body vibrations, heavy lifting, and a sedentary position. Other potential exposures are accelerations and decelerations and whiplash accidents. Such exposure may be involved in the causation of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc. METHODS: A standardized hospitalization ratio was calculated for each subgroup of drivers using all economically active people as the standard. Additional exposure information was extracted from a national survey on work environment. RESULTS: Almost all men in occupations involving professional driving had a statistically significant elevated risk of being hospitalized with prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc. CONCLUSIONS: Professional driving is a risk factor for prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

[Validity of the diagnosis "essential hypertension" in the National Patient Registry].

This study validated hypertension (ICD-8: 401.99) in The National Inpatient Register with reference to the use of the diagnosis in the Occupational Hospitalization Register. A university hospital and a regional hospital were chosen for the evaluation. A sample of case records with the discharge diagnosis essential hypertension and additional case records with other diagnoses were re-coded blindly and independently by two doctors. Cause of admission or admission diagnosis was recorded for essential hypertension cases. The agreement with The National Inpatient Register ranged from 60 to 40%. About half of the cases with the discharge diagnosis "essential hypertension" were admitted to hospital due to hypertension, about a quarter due to diagnoses within "other arteriosclerotic diseases" (ICD-8: 400, 402-440). The misclassification may lead to an underestimation of risks of hypertension in various occupations in the Occupational Hospitalization Register or bias the occupational risk pattern of essential hypertension to become more alike that of arteriosclerotic diseases.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1996

Occupation and ischemic heart disease in the European Community: a comparative study of occupations at potential high risk.

Four longitudinal studies of mortality and morbidity by occupation based on individual record linkage of information and two cross-sectional studies of mortality were compared in order to identify occupations at high risk of ischemic heart disease. In more than one country an increased risk of ischemic heart disease was found in drivers of buses, taxies, and lorries, in bakers, in naval officers and fishermen, in hotel and restaurant workers, in senior police, customs, and other uniformed men, in barbers and hairdressers, in warehouse and wholesale staff, as well as in laboratory assistants and in radio and telegraph operators. Occupations found at high risk in Denmark were also found at high risk in Great Britain and Italy. These occupations may be at genuine high risk. None of these groups work day-work only and several of the groups have psychologically demanding work but unsatisfactory decision authority. Identification of occupations at high risk may help to develop focused preventive strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Referral bias among health workers in studies using hospitalization as a proxy measure of the underlying incidence rate.

Contacts with health services like hospitals or general practitioners are usually the only available proxy measure of incidence of disease in studies based on secondary data and differential referrals or care-seeking behavior often bias such proxy measures. In former analyses based on the Occupational Hospitalization Register in Denmark assisting nurses had high Standardized Hospitalization Ratios for many diseases. It was, however, suspected that it fully or partly was due to a referral bias or self-selection to hospital treatment rather than exposures to occupational hazards. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the referral bias hypothesis by comparing hospitalization and mortality data for health workers for a disease category with a high mortality. Cohorts of all gainfully employed 20- to 59-year-old Danes were formed in order to compare Standardized Mortality Ratios and Standardized Hospitalization Ratios of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in occupational groups. The follow-up period was 10 years. For most of the investigated occupational groups a similar disease pattern was found whether hospitalization or death was used as the outcome measure. In "nurse assistants" a statistically significant higher risk was, however, found using hospitalization due to IHD as the end point rather than mortality. Additional analysis did not support the hypothesis that the finding could be explained by differentiated hospitalization due to social factors. The true incidence rates of the disease need not be equally well described by proxy measures such as hospitalization diagnosis or death diagnosis in all occupational groups. Differential access to medical treatment in some groups may lead to bias when hospital data are used as proxy measures for the underlying incidence rates.

Bias↗
PubMed1996

Occupation, employment status and chronic inflammatory bowel disease in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Certain occupational groups have formerly been identified as having higher risks of suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. These were evaluated in an independent data set. METHODS: A cohort, comprising all 2 273 872 male and female Danes aged 20-59 years on 1 January 1986 were followed up for hospitalizations due to chronic inflammatory bowel disease until 31 December 1990. RESULTS: From 1981 to 1990 6296 first time admissions occurred. The incidence increased from 1981-1985 to 1986-1990. Of 363 male and 213 female occupational groups eight and five groups respectively had statistically significant raised standardized hospitalization ratios. Among 15 groups previously found to have significant odds ratios only female office staff and health occupations were found to have statistically significant raised standardized hospitalization ratios. Ratios for occupational groups with non-daytime work were not statistically significant. Compared to occupations without sedentary work occupations with predominantly sedentary work had a standardized hospitalization ratio of 125 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] : 116.9-133.1). Self-employed had low hospitalization rates, while 'other salaried staff' and 'not economically active' had high rates. CONCLUSIONS: We found no consistent pattern of occupations at increased risk except that sedentary work may increase the risk of attracting chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Incidence of lung cancer among cobalt-exposed women.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of lung cancer for women occupationally exposed to cobalt-aluminate spinel. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 874 women occupationally exposed to cobalt in two Danish porcelain factories and 520 women not exposed to cobalt were identified from personnel files. Vital status was assessed in the national population register, and incident cancer cases were traced in the national cancer register. Thirteen women (0.92%) were lost to follow-up. The observed deaths and incident cancer cases were compared with the expected number based on rates for all Danish women. RESULTS: The total mortality of the cohort was the same as for all Danish women. The incidence of all cancer was slightly elevated among the exposed women (67 observed, 55.8 expected) and equal to the expected in the reference group (60 observed, 60.6 expected). An increased lung cancer incidence was found both in the exposed group [8 cases, standardized incidence rate (SIR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-4.6] and in the reference group (7 cases, SIR 1.99, 95% CI 0.8-4.1). The exposed group had a relative risk ratio of 1.2 (95% CI 0.4-3.8) when compared with the reference group. CONCLUSIONS: Both the cobalt-exposed group and the reference group had an increased lung cancer risk compared with all Danish women, but the risk was only slightly higher for the exposed group than for the reference group. The study was based on few persons, and we recommend a follow-up after five years.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Occupation and lumbar disk prolapse].

All Danish occupational groups were screened for an increased risk of hospitalization due to a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) (ICD-8: 725.11). A cohort of all gainfully employed Danes aged 20 to 59 years in 1981 was followed-up for 10 years for first hospitalization with PLID. A Standardized Hospitalization Ratio was calculated using all economically active persons as the reference group. Male groups with an elevated risk were found in building and construction, the iron and metal industry, in the food and nutrition sector and in occupational driving. Almost all groups of professional drivers had an elevated risk. Female groups with an elevated risk were mainly found in the same industries, but home helps, service workers in the private sector and sewing machine operators also had an elevated risk. We conclude that there are significant and systematic differences between occupational groups as concerns the risk of hospital admission due to PLID.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Skin problems among Danish dental technicians. A cross-sectional study.

Our objective was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of skin problems on the hands among dental technicians during the last 10 years by comparison with results of a previous study, to study whether the presence and location of skin problems could be related to work with acrylates, and to study whether the use of gloves had any influence on the prevalence of the skin problems. A cross-sectional questionnaire study among 192 dental technicians at work was performed using an expanded version of a questionnaire from a Danish survey 10 years ago. The cumulative prevalence of skin problems on the hands was 53%. The 1-year prevalence of skin problems on the hands was 43%. The point prevalence of skin problems on the hands was 36%. These prevalence figures were profoundly higher than the figures reported for the general population, and the figures did not differ from those obtained in the study 10 years ago. The point prevalence of skin problems on the hands among individuals handling acrylates was 38% higher than among individuals who never worked with acrylates. No difference in the occurrence of skin problems was observed between individuals using gloves and individuals who did not use gloves while handling acrylates. The prevalence difference of skin problems on the fingertips was 7.3% between individuals handling acrylates daily or several times a week and individuals handling acrylates less frequently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acrylates↗
PubMed1995

Rapid increase in skin problems among dental technician trainees working with acrylates.

A panel of trainees at The Danish School of Dental Technicians was asked to fill in questionnaires 2X a year, to elucidate whether the prevalence of skin problems on their hands increased during the study and to compare the results to the general population. At the beginning of the study, trainees had a prevalence of skin problems not statistically significantly different from that in the general population. 8 months later, an increase of 23% in the prevalence was observed. Compared to the general population the standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) increased to 4.78, and compared to dental technicians at work, an SPR of 0.71 was found after 1 year of study. Very few trainees experienced relief in symptoms during the 1st year of study (5%), whereas 33% developed worse symptoms. The results demonstrate that trainees shortly after beginning their education have the same very high magnitude of skin problems as dental technicians at work. Trainees were exposed to acrylates more extensively than dental technicians. It is far from acceptable that this educational experience involves such a great risk to individuals with no experience or knowledge of the hazards of their occupational environment. Preventive actions are called for, e.g., increased use of encapsulated systems, use of gloves with a well documented protective effect and mandatory courses on the hazardous effects of dental materials.

Acrylates↗
PubMed1994

Employment status, non-daytime work and gastric ulcer in men.

BACKGROUND: An excess risk of gastric ulcer (GU) (ICD-8: 531) has formerly been found in shift workers and ex-shiftworkers but little is known about the risk of GU associated with other forms of non-daytime work. This study deals with associations between non-daytime work and GU. METHODS: A fixed cohort of 122,116 men in occupations in which at least 20% had non-daytime work and a reference group of 593,281 men in occupations with daytime work only, was followed in the National Inpatient Register for first discharges with GU as the principal diagnosis. RESULTS: For men with daytime work only we found a steep inverse association between GU and employment status. Men in occupational groups with late evening work had a standardized hospitalization ratio (SHR) of 236 (90% confidence interval [Cl]: 184-299), groups working in rosters covering 24-hour services had an SHR of 147 (90% Cl: 116-183). A slightly raised risk of 114 (90% Cl: 101-128) was found in groups having other forms of non-daytime work. For all men in groups with non-daytime work we found a significant SHR of 130 (90% Cl: 118-142). CONCLUSION: We conclude that both low employment status and non-daytime work are associated with an increased risk of GU.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Working hours and ischaemic heart disease in Danish men: a 4-year cohort study of hospitalization.

Four groups of men with non-daytime work were identified in two surveys. The relative risk of being admitted to hospital due to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) (ICD-8, 410-414) was measured in a 4-year cohort study of all 1,293,888 economically active men in Denmark, aged 20-59 years. Compared with occupational groups having day-work only, men in occupations with frequent night and early morning work had an excess standardized hospitalization ratio (SHR) of 193, occupational groups with late evening work had an excess SHR of 216, groups working in rosters covering 24-hour services had an excess SHR of 174, and groups having other irregular working hours had an excess SHR of 172. We conclude that night work rather than shifts is responsible for a raised risk of IHD. More research is needed to develop preventive strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Occupation and hospitalization with ischaemic heart diseases: a new nationwide surveillance system based on hospital admissions.

A cohort of all people in Denmark aged 20-59 years on 1 January 1981 was followed up for four years for emigration, death and hospital admission for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) as the primary diagnosis. The data set allows tabulation of rates of hospitalization by occupation, position and industry. Well-known classic associations for IHD have been reproduced. Examples are: male bus drivers had a standardized hospitalization ratio (SHR) of 136; for male urban bus drivers SHR = 143, male taxi drivers SHR = 168, fishermen SHR = 129, men occupied in hotels and restaurants SHR = 140, women in hotels and restaurants SHR = 157. The consistency with previous findings is an argument that new significant associations should be treated as substantiated hypotheses if no selection bias is known. Examples of groups at significant excess risk of IHD are those self-employed in the textile industry, self-employed hairdressers, foremen in the construction industry, bakers, medical and industrial laboratory technicians, telephone assistants and unskilled tube and sheet workers in shipyards.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Work and "lifestyle" in occupational mortality in Denmark.

Using social class standardization Fox and Adelstein found that 18% of all mortality was attributed to work, while 82% was attributable to lifestyle. Fox and Adelstein had access to 25 occupational orders. We have made similar calculations on Danish mortality statistics including 146 occupational groups. Our results are very different: more than 50% of all mortality among Danish men seems to be related to work. Of 51,317 work-related deaths in 10 years, one third were due to cancer, and half due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The marked differences in results have lead to considerations on the applicability of the model and the underlying assumptions. One conclusion is that social differences and differences in mortality between social groups are so small in Denmark that a few subgroups with "deviant" mortality and/or lifestyle will be determinants of the results. Inclusion of more occupational groups increases the percentage of deaths associated with work.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cobalt exposure and cancer risk.

Cobalt is a technically important metal, used mainly as a binder in the hard-metal industry and as a constituent of many alloys. Cobalt compounds are used as drying agents in paints and laquers. Since ancient times, cobalt compounds have been used as coloring agents for pottery, ceramics, and glass. Soluble cobalt salts interfere adversely with cell division, bind irreversibly to nucleic acids in the cell nucleus, induce chromosome aberrations in plants, and are weakly mutagenic in some in vitro tests with cultured animal cells, bacteria, and yeast. Injections or implantation of cobalt metal, cobalt alloys, and cobalt compounds induced local and sometimes metastasizing sarcomas in rats, rabbits, and mice. Mouse is the least susceptible animal. The only published inhalation study with hamsters exposed to CoO aerosols remained non-positive. Indication of possible carcinogenic effects of cobalt alloys or compounds in human populations has arisen from medical use, in hard-metal industries, and at cobalt production. Unfortunately, confounding by nickel and arsenic is a major problem, and the size of most of the investigated populations has been rather small, so none of the investigations alone gives sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect in humans, but taken together there is an indication of a carcinogenic potential that should be explored further.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Respiratory cancer in Danish bakers: a 10 year cohort study.

A national cohort based on the census at 9 November 1970 and the death registration files from 1970 to 1980 was analysed to see if skilled Danish bakers had an excess of respiratory cancer. The group of skilled bakers was divided into occupational subgroups to try to narrow down the possible causes of cancer. Significant excess mortality was found among skilled bakers in retail bakeries, skilled bakers in hotels and restaurants, and independent bakers. To adjust for confounding factors, the SMR was calculated with control groups of equal social status and smoking habits. With all skilled workers as the reference group, skilled bakers in retail bakeries still had an excess, but now insignificant, risk but skilled bakers in hotels and restaurants had a significant excess risk. Compared with all self employed people in urban occupations in which an average of six or fewer workers were employed as a referent group, independent bakers had an insignificant excess risk. Suspected carcinogens in bakeries include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), reaction products of PAH, free radicals, n-nitrosodimethylamine, aflatoxin, sterigmatocystin, and zeralenone.

Cooking↗