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Occupational categories at risk for Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Kirkey Kandace L.,
Johnson Christine Cole,
Rybicki Benjamin A.,
Peterson Edward L.,
Kortsha Gene X.,
Gorell Jay M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.1055
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , environmental health , occupational disease , etiology , occupational medicine , occupational safety and health , population , service (business) , gerontology , disease , demography , working population , parkinson's disease , occupational exposure , pathology , economy , sociology , economics
Abstract Background The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to have a strong environmental component, but relatively few studies have investigated the potential association between occupation and the disease. Methods In a population‐based case‐control study, we collected comprehensive occupational histories from all study participants, 144 case and 464 control subjects. Results Chi‐square analysis revealed that working in an agricultural occupation increased estimated PD risk (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.85, 3.60). In contrast, a history of ever working in a service occupation was negatively associated with PD risk (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.47, 1.00). Risk estimates were close to one for specific service occupations. Adjusted odds ratios for all non‐service occupational and industrial categories were similar, and working in a service occupation was the only significant inverse predictor of PD risk. Conclusions Future investigations focusing on lifestyle factors and environmental exposures within the agricultural and service occupational categories are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:564–571, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.