Abstract
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between occupational exposures and sickness absence (SA), the mediating role of respiratory symptoms, and whether genetic susceptibility to SA upon occupational exposures exists. Logistic regression was used to examine associations and structural equation modelling was used for mediation analyses. Genetic susceptibility was investigated by including interactions between occupational exposures and 11 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Biological dust, mineral dust, and pesticides exposure were associated with a lower prevalence of any SA (OR (95% CI) = 0.72 (0.58–0.89), 0.88 (0.78–0.99), and 0.70 (0.55–0.89), respectively) while gases/fumes exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of long-term SA (1.46 (1.11–1.91)). Subjects exposed to solvents and metals had a higher prevalence of any (1.14 (1.03–1.26) and 1.68 (1.26–2.24)) and long-term SA (1.26 (1.08–1.46) and 1.75 (1.15–2.67)). Chronic cough and chronic phlegm mediated the association between high gases/fumes exposure and long-term SA. Two of 11 SNPs investigated had a positive interaction with exposure on SA and one SNP negatively interacted with exposure on SA. Exposure to metals and gases/fumes showed a clear dose–response relationship with a higher prevalence of long-term SA; contrary, exposure to pesticides and biological/mineral dust showed a protective effect on any SA. Respiratory symptoms mediated the association between occupational exposures and SA. Moreover, gene-by-exposure interactions exist.
Highlights
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between occupational exposures and sickness absence (SA), the mediating role of respiratory symptoms, and whether genetic susceptibility to SA upon occupational exposures exists
We have previously shown that specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in biologically plausible genes were associated with the susceptibility to occupational exposures with regard to respiratory health effects, i.e., lung function level[13,14]
We further investigated whether the associations were mediated by respiratory symptoms, and we assessed whether workers with a specific genetic make-up are more susceptible to sickness absence upon occupational exposure
Summary
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between occupational exposures and sickness absence (SA), the mediating role of respiratory symptoms, and whether genetic susceptibility to SA upon occupational exposures exists. Whether occupational exposure to biological dust, mineral dust, gases/fumes, pesticides, solvents, and metals is associated with sickness absence in the general working population, has yet to be elucidated. We have previously shown that specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in biologically plausible genes were associated with the susceptibility to occupational exposures with regard to respiratory health effects, i.e., lung function level[13,14]. The main aim of this study was to investigate the association between occupational exposure to biological dust, mineral dust, gases/fumes, pesticides, solvents, and metals, assessed with ALOHA + job-exposure matrix (JEM)[15], and self-reported sickness absence in active workers in a general population cohort. We further investigated whether the associations were mediated by respiratory symptoms, and we assessed whether workers with a specific genetic make-up are more susceptible to sickness absence upon occupational exposure
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