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Document ID (ISN)103188
CIS number 04-78
ISSN - Serial title 0355-3140 - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Radon K., Goldberg M., Becklake M.
Title Healthy worker effect in cohort studies on chronic bronchitis
Bibliographic information Oct. 2002, Vol.28, No.5, p.328-332. Illus.27 ref.
Abstract Two mechanisms are responsible for the healthy worker effect in respiratory cohort studies. One is health-based selection of workers into employment (healthy hire effect), and the other is health-based losses over time (healthy worker survivor effect). The aim of the present paper was to estimate the magnitude of the healthy worker survivor effect in cohort studies of chronic bronchitis. A meta-analysis of eight cohort studies published between 1980 and 2001 was performed. The pooled odds ratio of the prevalence of chronic bronchitis for subjects leaving the cohorts was 1.23 when these subjects were compared with those who remained under study. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exposed workers may be underestimated if the healthy worker survivor effect is not taken into account.
Descriptors (primary) healthy worker effect; epidemiology; chronic bronchitis
Descriptors (secondary) epidemiological aspects; frequency rates; statistical evaluation; cohort study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceCanada
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Epidemiology
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)