Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Healthy Worker Effect”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Work related mortality from gastrointestinal diseases and alcohol among seafarers employed in British merchant shipping from 1939 to 2002.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate work related mortality from gastrointestinal diseases and from alcohol among seafarers who were employed in British merchant shipping from 1939 to 2002. METHODS: A longitudinal study, based on official mortality files from 1976-2002 and official mortality returns from 1939-1975, with a population of 7.29 million seafarer-years at risk. RESULTS: From 1939 to 2002, there were 864 deaths from gastrointestinal diseases and 72 from alcoholism. Overall mortality from gastrointestinal diseases fell from 18.4 per 100,000 in 1939-49 to 9.3 in 1970-79 and 0.3 in 1990-2002. Mortality from alcoholism, and from alcohol-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis and diseases of the pancreas, increased up to the 1960s or 1970s, but fell thereafter. From 1950 to 1972, mortality from gastrointestinal diseases was 1.8 times higher among Asian seafarers compared to British seafarers, largely because of liver disease, peritonitis and peptic ulcer. At the time of the last censuses of seamen in 1961 and 1971, compared with the general British male working aged population, morality among British seafarers was greatly increased for peritonitis and alcoholism but not for most other gastrointestinal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Sharp reductions in mortality from gastrointestinal diseases and from alcoholism since the 1970s contrasts with increases among the general British population, and are largely because of the "flagging-out" of most British deep sea ships, and consequent reductions in long voyages, as well as reductions in alcohol consumption among seafarers at work. Largely because of the healthy worker effect, seafarers were usually only at increased risks from particularly acute diseases.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1991

Atopic status as a factor in job decision making in grain workers.

We conducted allergy skin-prick testing on 207 young cereal grain workers within 0.27 years of the commencement of their employment in the grain industry and again after 1.34 years of employment on 124 workers. We also studied 120 control subjects on the first observation and 105 on the second observation. Grain workers had lower prevalence than did the controls of positive skin tests on the first observation, and this difference increased by the second observation. Respiratory symptoms were more frequent among grain workers with positive skin tests who dropped out of the industry than among those who stayed in the industry. We conclude that atopic status may be a factor in job selection and drop out decision making and may be a factor explaining the healthy worker effect.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Morbidity patterns among employees at a petroleum refinery.

This study examined the morbidity experience of a prospective cohort of 2132 male employees who worked at a petroleum refinery from 1981 through 1988. The morbidity data included all illness-absence episodes in excess of 5 days during the study period. Standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs) of disease prevalence were calculated using data from all manufacturing employees of the Shell Oil Company as an internal comparison group. As such, there is no potential bias associated with the "healthy worker effect" in this type of study design. Morbidity for all causes combined was virtually the same as that for the comparison group with 2,311 observed and 2,318 expected disease prevalence events. However, there were statistically increased prevalence of musculoskeletal system disorders (SMR = 136) and injuries (SMR = 125) among staff employees and skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (SMR = 138) among production employees. A review of the original morbidity reports for these skin conditions revealed that none were due to exposure to chemical products or solvents. The SMR for neoplasms of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue among production employees was slightly elevated but was based on only three cases (2.4 expected). Of the three cases, none was due to leukemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A cancer mortality study in Bombay-based atomic energy community: 1975-1987.

Cancer deaths recorded by the centralised health services of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) among its employees and their families stationed in Bombay during 1975-1987 have been analysed. Expected number of deaths due to cancer in the study group has been estimated by using the age-sex-specific cancer death rates reported for Bombay resident population for the year 1983. The size of the database for the entire DAE community is about 702,000 person years and the number of cancer deaths observed in 154. Analysis has been done separately for employees and their families, individually for important groups of cancer sites such as respiratory organs, digestive organs, breast, genito-urinary organs and lymphatic and haematopoietic systems. The standardised mortality ratios are generally lower than 100, which may partly be due to the 'healthy worker effect' in the DAE community and partly because of its differences in the social class distribution and the concomitant differences in lifestyle with respect to the comparison group of Bombay city.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Incidence of tuberculosis among canning workers in the Boland, 1987.

Tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem in South Africa. Current control policy in industry relies on passive case-finding and regards industrial workers as at low risk. Analysis of tuberculosis among a canning factory population in the Boland demonstrated high rates of pulmonary tuberculosis, comparable to the high rates in the community, and an absence of the 'healthy worker effect'. Black men were at particular risk. An argument is made for a review of current practices in tuberculosis control based on a sound knowledge of risk profiles for particular industries.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Evaluation of the health status of workers exposed to carbon disulfide].

The investigation included 134 workers from a viscose rayon factory who were exposed to average concentrations of carbon disulphide exceeding MAC values (x = 119.3 mg/m3) for more than 75% of their working hours. Workers' chronic morbidity from carbon disulphide exposure was analysed over a three-year period, and results were compared with those for a control group of the same age but with a shorter exposure duration. The percentage of ill workers and the prevalence rate were both similar to those of the control group. However, as concerns the specific morbidity caused by carbon disulphide exposure, toxic polyneuropathy was present only among the exposed workers. In that group hypertension too reached a higher prevalence rate, statistically significant, although both groups consisted of younger workers of similar age. The prevalence of other diseases was comparable, possibly because of the selection bias, and the healthy worker effect. Owing to that effect workers with the most distinct symptoms had been removed from their jobs and, consequently, excluded from examinations. That could have been a reason for underestimating exposure effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Health status and sulfur dioxide exposure of nickel smelter workers and civic laborers.

We examined a group of 143 nickel smelter workers who processed a high sulfide ore, and compared their health status with that of 117 civic laborers. All subjects were studied over the first four days of a week of work, administering a health questionnaire on day 1, measuring their pulmonary function on the morning of day 1 and day 4, and monitoring their personal exposure to SO2 and particulates over the same period. The smelter workers were exposed to an average of 0.374 mg/m3 of respirable particulates, a threefold higher level than the controls, and to 0.67 ppm of sulfur dioxide, a 40-fold greater amount than the controls, but were found to show no excess of chronic respiratory symptoms and did not differ from the controls either in their baseline pulmonary function or in their change from the morning of day 1 to day 4. However, there were several indicators of a healthy worker effect in the smelter worker group.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1987

Importance and economic burden of occupational back pain: a study of 2,500 cases representative of Quebec.

The objectives of the study were to estimate the rate of 1-year incidence of occupational back pain, describe the duration of absence from work, and assess medical and economic aspects of this problem. A total of 2,523 files of occupational back pain, representative of the Province of Quebec for the year 1981, were examined by a multidisciplinary team. Census data from 1981 were used for the denominators. The overall 1-year incidence in 1981 was 1.37%. The age-specific incidence rates show an increase-decrease pattern that could be interpreted as a "healthy worker effect". The male to female relative risks by age range from 5.6 (20 to 24 years old) to 1.8 (55 to 64 years old). In the 1-year follow-up, 74% of the workers were absent for less than 1 month. The 7.4% of cases who were absent from work for more than 6 months accounted for nearly 75% of lost days, medical costs, and indemnity payments. We pinpoint some methodologic issues of studies on occupational back pain.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1988

[Health status of journalists and organization of work in a national daily newspaper].

A multidisciplinary investigation was performed on 173 reporters (53 men and 20 women) of a newspaper. The microclimate and illumination conditions of the main seat, in which the use of VDT was beginning, were satisfactory, although not all the instruments were correctly adjusted. A very low percentage of reporters working in the main center was suffering from arterial hypertension indicating the presence of the "healthy worker effect". The values of plasma cortisol and arterial blood pressure of 10 reporters of the main seat, except two cases, changed normally during the evening hours. It is to point out that among the reporters there was significant correlation between spondylosis and astigmatism. The psychological investigation evidenced that the reporters were aggressive, eager of success and with constant attention. The EMG biofeedback demonstrated in the reporters with a more prolonged period of employment nervous tension and difficulty in relaxing. Particularly, in the reporters of the main center, the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory was more altered than in those of the peripheral seats.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Health risks among submarine personnel in the U.S. Navy, 1974-1979.

This study evaluated health risks associated with U.S. Navy submarine duty by comparing hospitalization rates of submariners with surface ship personnel. The groups were compared using age-adjusted hospitalization rates for 16 major diagnostic categories and several specific diagnoses postulated to be submarine associated. Submarine personnel did not have significantly higher hospitalization rates for any diagnostic categories nor for any of the submarine-associated illnesses. Submariner relative risk of hospital admissions was greater for a few selected diagnoses but statistical significance was not attained. Submarine personnel had lower hospitalization rates for nearly all of the diagnostic categories examined. Reasons for these lower rates may be stringent screening of submariners, higher levels of education among submariners, difficulty of evacuation from a submarine, and the healthy-worker effect. The health status of U.S. Navy personnel does not seem to be adversely affected by submarine duty.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

An historical cohort study of mortality among salaried research and development workers of the Allied Corporation.

An historical cohort mortality study of research and development personnel (primarily chemists) actively employed on Dec 31, 1961, with at least 1 year of service with the Allied Corporation was carried out. These employees experienced lower mortality for all causes of death combined and all cancer causes combined than would be expected on the basis of the general US population. The degree of deficit in all causes of death combined was below the healthy worker effect usually associated with occupational mortality studies of production workers. There was one statistically significant excess, that for cancer of the prostate among research laboratory personnel who worked during the period 1945 to 1955, a period during which researchers may have been exposed to insecticides or fluorine derivatives. Substantial deficits were observed for causes of death known to be related to life-style, suggesting that mortality among Allied's salaried employees, including research and development workers, may have been influenced more by these factors than by occupational factors.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1986

[Epidemiology of occupational risks: methodological problems].

The main methodological problems encountered in occupational epidemiology are related to the particularity of the risk factors concerned. It is necessary to account for the "Healthy Worker Effect" in the design, analysis and interpretation of surveys since the very presence of workers at particular jobs is related to their health. In cohort studies, it is necessary to have precise knowledge of the work environment corresponding to different jobs as exposure information is generally not individual, objective and continuously recorded. In case-control studies also, information on occupational exposures is a key issue, not only from the point of view of differential bias but also because exposure that is too loosely defined leads to dilution and reduced accuracy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

A result-oriented medical information system. An alternative to the conventional approach.

A result-oriented medical information system at the Gulf Oil Corporation is described. Mortality data acquired mostly from routine company operations have been used to calculate standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and life expectancy. Results show that male employees at the age of 20 have a life expectancy of 74.8 years. Compared with the U.S. general population at age 20 with a life expectancy of 71.8 years, Gulf employees have an advantage of exactly three years. Such an advantage may seem small, but it is equivalent to the gain that could be achieved if all deaths from cancer were eliminated in the United States, a hypothetical and impossible situation. These life expectancy data have the potential for use by the company to influence insurance premiums traditionally set by life insurance companies as well as to aid in the management of the company's pension fund. The SMR for all causes for the male employees is 0.82, significantly decreased in comparison with that of the U.S. general population. This favorable experience has been referred to as "the healthy worker effect." Cause-specific SMRs show a generalized pattern of deficits, some of which are statistically significant. None showed a significant increase. Seventy-six percent of the male deaths occurred among employees aged 65 years or older. If these annuitants (those alive at the beginning of the study) were not included and only the active workers were studied, an SMR of only 0.54 would be obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1982

Occupational mortality and morbidity in relation to selective turnover.

Because of the "healthy worker effect" most occupational cohorts, especially those of persons doing physically heavy work, are selected groups with regard to life expectancy. Health selection is also involved in turnover. Mortality and morbidity were studied on three different exposure levels, defined primarily according to physical demands: heavy level (iron foundries), medium level (manufacture of metal products), and light level (manufacture of electrical devices). The population comprised about 15,700 men who were employed in 1950-1976 in the three branches of the metal industry representing the different levels. The number of person-years of follow-up became about 215,800. During the period 1950-1978, there had occurred 1,407 deaths. Data for the mortality and disability analyses were obtained from the national death and disability registers. Occupational history, morbidity, and reasons for turnover were studied in a sample by means of questionnaire sent to 400 current and 600 former workers from each branch. In addition, a questionnaire concerning occupational history was sent to the next of kin of 450 dead persons. When the three cohorts were compared to the general male population of Finland, the standardized mortality ratio was 124 for the foundry workers, 92 for the metal product workers, and 107 for the electrical workers. The survival curves showed no great differences between the three exposure levels. However, the heavy level had the highest degree of mortality, and the medium level the lowest. Foundry workers showed less social selection than the two other cohorts. Metal product workers seemed to be socially and health selected. Economic fluctuations clearly regulated entries of new employees into the industries and thus introduced additional selective features.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Cancer morbidity among men exposed to oil mist in the metal industry.

The cancer morbidity pattern among 788 men with at least five years' exposure to oil mist was investigated. Based on measurements, interviews of workers and a survey of changes over the years, the average exposure level was estimated to have been 5 mg/m3 or more prior to 1965. Exclusive of cancer of the scrotum, there were 39 observed cases of cancer compared to 52.9 expected. There were four cases of cancer of the scrotum among the turners but none among the grinders. Three cases of lung cancer were found, compared to 5.4 expected. Among the grinders there was a doubled, but not statistically significant, increase in cancer of the stomach. The mortality from all causes showed a so-called "healthy worker effect," that is, 126 deaths compared to 154.3 expected.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Mortality study of workers employed at organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plants.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine the mortality of workers employed in the manufacture of the chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, chlordane, heptachlor, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane (DDT) and aldrin/dieldrin/endrin. Four manufacturing plants were selected for study, and each cohort included all workers employed for at least six months prior to January 1964. The entire study group totaled approximately 2,100 individuals. Vital status ascertainment for these cohorts ranged from 90 to 97% complete; the cut-off date for follow-up was 31 December 1976. In general there were too few deaths in this study on which to draw any meaningful conclusions. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all causes in each cohort was below the expected level (100) and ranged from 66 to 82, probably a reflection of the "healthy worker effect." For "all malignant neoplasms" the SMRs ranged from 68 to 91 and for respiratory cancer from 55 to 132. In the aldrin/dieldrin/endrin cohort observed deaths due to pneumonia and "other respiratory diseases" were significantly above the expected number of deaths. For several other specific cancer sites (stomach in plant 1, esophagus, rectum, liver and lymphatic/hematopoietic system in plant 3), the observed deaths were more than the expected number and should be examined in more detail. It is recommended that these cohorts be followed for several more years and the mortality patterns be reexamined.

Epidemiologic Methods↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Limitations and problems in deriving risk estimates for low-level radiation exposure.

Some of the problems in determining the cancer risk of low-level radiation from studies of exposed groups are reviewed and applied to the study of Hanford workers by Mancuso, Stewart, and Kneale. Problems considered are statistical limitations, variation of cancer rates with geography and race, the "healthy worker effect," calendar year and age variation of cancer mortality, choosing from long lists, use of proportional mortality rates, cigarette smoking-cancer correlations, use of averages to represent data distributions, ignoring other data, and correlations between radiation exposure and other factors that may cause cancer. The current status of studies of the Hanford workers is reviewed.

Adult↗