Changing smoking habits and the occurrence of lung cancer in Sweden-a population analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective is to estimate the importance of the decrease of smoking habits in Sweden for the occurrence of lung cancer. METHODS: The change in smoking habits in the general population was retrieved from surveys and on taxation of sale of cigarettes. We used data from the Swedish Cancer Register on incidence of lung cancer between 1970 and 2021, stratified for sex, age and cell type, and compared the occurrence overtime in ages between 40 and 84 years. RESULTS: The sale of cigarettes peaked in 1980 to 1800 cigarettes per person and decreased to 600 per person in 2021. The change in incidence rates of squamous cell cancer and other cell types varied over time, sex, and age in a pattern that partly seems to be explained by change in the prevalence of daily smokers. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was similar in men and women 1970-2021 and increased, e.g. for women and men 75-79 years of age from around 20 cases in early 1970s to around 120 cases per 100 000 person-years in the 2020s. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the risk of lung cancer several years after smoking cessation is less favourable than previously studies have indicated. There is a similar increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma in men and women which is hard to explain only with changing smoking habits. The change from non-filter to filter cigarettes in the 1960s-1970s may be a contributing factor.

Asbestos and disease - a public health success story?

OBJECTIVE: This paper discusses the failure and success of society to decrease the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure on workers' health in relation to scientific knowledge. METHODS: The findings are based on a narrative literature review. RESULTS: Early warnings of the adverse health effects of workplace exposure to asbestos were published already in the 1930s. Serious health effects, such as malignancies and fibrosis due to occupational asbestos exposure, were highlighted in major medical journals and textbooks in late 1960s. New technologies could detect also asbestos fibers in the lung of non-occupational exposed persons in the 1970s. The first bans for using asbestos came in the early 1970s, and more general bans by authorities came in the 1980s and continue until today. CONCLUSIONS: The rather late recognition of adverse effects of asbestos exposure in the general population and measures to decrease the exposure through more general bans came rather late. However, the very strong measures such as general bans in many countries have been a success. A Swedish study showed that the general ban and other measures have decreased the risk of malignancies due to occupational exposure. The effect of the bans on adverse effects in the general population has yet to be studied. Analysis of fibers in the lungs of persons born after the bans could be an efficient method.

Occupational physical activity and resting blood pressure in male construction workers.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and resting blood pressure in a cohort of Swedish construction workers. METHODS: The final sample included 241,176 male construction workers. Occupations with low OPA were foremen and white-collar workers. The most frequent occupations in the medium OPA group were electricians, pipe workers, and machine operators, and in the high OPA group woodworkers, concrete workers, and painters. RESULTS: Mixed effects models showed higher systolic and lower diastolic blood pressure with higher OPA, but the associations varied depending on the year of participation and participant age as shown by significant interaction terms (OPA*age, OPA*calendar year, age*calendar year). Age-stratified linear regression analyses showed a pattern of slightly higher systolic (1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.90 mmHg) and lower diastolic (0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.65-1.13 mmHg) blood pressure when comparing low with high OPA, but not among the oldest age groups. CONCLUSION: Despite a rather large contrast in OPA, the differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure according to OPA were small.

A cohort study of retinal detachment among Swedish construction workers.

OBJECTIVE: Retinal detachment (RD) has been associated with exposure to heavy lifting. Many occupations within the construction industry are likely to involve lifting tasks. We investigated the association between occupational heavy lifting and rhegmatogenous RD in a retrospective cohort study of Swedish construction workers. METHODS: We studied Swedish construction workers who participated in an industry-wide health and safety program from 1971 to 1993. Individual occupation codes were linked to a job exposure matrix, assigning intensity of exposure to heavy lifting to each worker. The Swedish National Patient Register was used to identify cases of RD that occurred during follow-up through the end of 2012. We used Poisson regression modeling to calculate incidence rates of RD associated with heavy lifting, age and other covariates. A subcohort of those age ≤25 years at enrollment was studied to reduce bias from missing exposure information from work prior to enrollment. RESULTS: Of 256 241 construction workers, 17% were classified with high exposure to heavy lifting in their occupation. Within the cohort, 1588 cases of RD were identified. Average exposure intensity of heavy lifting was not associated with risk of RD. However, RD risk increased with increasing cumulative exposure to heavy lifting, both in the full cohort and subcohort of those who were ≤25 years old at entry into the construction-worker cohort. CONCLUSION: Construction workers' risk of RD appeared to increase with time spent exposed to heavy lifting.

Smoking and Risk of Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Death: A Pooled Study.

BACKGROUND: Prospective and detailed investigations of smoking and prostate cancer (PCa) risk and death are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate prediagnosis smoking habit (status, intensity, duration, and cessation) as a risk factor, on its own and combined with body mass index (BMI), for PCa incidence and death. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We included 351448 men with smoking information from five Swedish cohorts. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for PCa incidence (n = 24731) and death (n = 4322). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Smoking was associated with a lower risk of any PCa (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86-0.92), which was most pronounced for low-risk PCa (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.79) and was restricted to PCa cases diagnosed in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. Smoking was associated with a higher risk of PCa death in the full cohort (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18) and in case-only analysis adjusted for clinical characteristics (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.31), which was a consistent finding across case groups (p = 0.8 for heterogeneity). Associations by smoking intensity and, to lesser degree, smoking duration and cessation, supported the associations for smoking status. Smoking in combination with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) further decreased the risk of low-risk PCa incidence (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.53 compared to never smokers with BMI <25 kg/m2) and further increased the risk of PCa death (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.21-1.84). A limitation of the study is that only a subgroup of men had information on smoking habit around the time of their PCa diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The lower PCa risk for smokers in the PSA era, particularly for low-risk PCa, can probably be attributed to low uptake of PSA testing by smokers. Poor survival for smokers, particularly obese smokers, requires further study to clarify the underlying causes and the preventive potential of smoking intervention for PCa death. PATIENT SUMMARY: Smokers have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, which further increases with obesity.

Surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome and occupational biomechanical risk factors in a 16-year prospective study among male construction workers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the association between occupational biomechanical exposures and the occurrence of surgical treatment for subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). METHODS: A cohort of 220 295 male constructions workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance program (1971-1993) were examined prospectively over a 16-year follow-up period (2001-2016) for surgically treated SIS. Worker job title, smoking status, height, weight, and age were registered on health examination. Job titles were mapped to 21 occupational groups based on tasks and training. A job exposure matrix (JEM) was developed with exposure estimates for each occupational group. Surgical cases were determined through linkage with the Swedish national in- and outpatient registers. Poisson regression was used to assess the relative risks (RR) for each biomechanical exposure. RESULTS: The total incidence rate of surgically treated SIS over the 16-year observation period was 201.1 cases per 100 000 person-years. Increased risk was evident for workers exposed to upper-extremity loading (push/pull/lift) (RR 1.45-2.30), high hand grip force (RR 1.47-2.23), using handheld tools (RR 1.52-2.09), frequent work with hands above shoulders (RR 1.62-2.11), static work (RR 1.77-2.26), and hand-arm vibration (RR 1.78-2.13). There was an increased risk for SIS surgery for all occupational groups (construction trades) compared with white-collar workers (RR 1.56-2.61). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational upper-extremity load and posture exposures were associated with increased risk for surgical treatment of SIS, which underlines the need for reducing workplace exposures and early symptom detection in highly exposed occupational groups.

Association of Blood Pressure with Prostate Cancer Risk by Disease Severity and Prostate Cancer Death: A Pooled Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The association of blood pressure (BP) with prostate cancer risk after accounting for asymptomatic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and with prostate cancer death, is unclear. METHODS: We investigated BP, measured at a mean age of 38 years among 430,472 men from five Swedish cohorts, in association with incident prostate cancer (n = 32,720) and prostate cancer death (n = 6718). HRs were calculated from multivariable Cox regression models. RESULTS: Increasing systolic and diastolic BP levels combined were associated with a slightly lower prostate cancer risk, with a HR of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99) per standard deviation (SD) of mid-BP (average of systolic and diastolic BP). The association was restricted to the PSA era (1997 onwards, HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98), to diagnoses initiated by a PSA test in asymptomatic men (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97), and to low-risk prostate cancer (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97). There was no clear association with more advanced disease at diagnosis. In cases, a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer death was observed for higher BP levels (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) per SD of mid-BP; however, the association was restricted to distant metastatic disease (Pheterogeneity between case groups = 0.01), and there was no association for BP measured less than 10 years prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Prediagnostic BP is unlikely an important risk factor for prostate cancer development and death. Less asymptomatic PSA testing among men with higher BP levels may explain their lower risk of prostate cancer. IMPACT: Elevated BP is unlikely to be an important risk factor for prostate cancer.

Cancer incidence in a cohort of Swedish merchant seafarers between 1985 and 2011.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer, mesothelioma and several lifestyle-associated cancer forms have been reported more common in merchant seafarers. However, few studies reflect recent occupational settings and women seafarers are usually too scarce for meaningful analyses. We conducted a study on cancer incidence between 1985 and 2011 in a Swedish cohort consisting of male and female seafarers. METHODS: All seafarers in the Swedish Seafarers' Register with at least one sea service between 1985 and 2011 and a cumulated sea service time of ≥ 30 days (N = 75,745; 64% men, 36% women; 1,245,691 person-years) were linked to the Swedish Cancer Register and followed-up until 31 December 2011. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated with the general population as reference. RESULTS: There were 4159 cancer cases in total, with 3221 among men and 938 among women. Male seafarers had an increased risk of total cancer (SIR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09), lung cancer (SIR 1.51; 95% CI 1.35-1.67) and urinary bladder cancer (SIR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02-1.33). Several lifestyle-associated cancer forms were more common in men. Previous work on tankers was associated with leukaemia (SIR 1.41; 95% CI 1.00-1.86). The risk of cancer decreased with a start as a male seafarer after 1985, with a significant trend for total cancer (P < 0.001), lung cancer (P = 0.001) and, for tanker seafarers, leukaemia (P = 0.045). Women seafarers had an increased risk of lung cancer (SIR 1.54; 95% CI 1.23-1.87) but the risk of total cancer was not increased (SIR 0.83; 95% CI 0.78-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of merchant Swedish seafarers 1985-2011, the risk of total cancer was increased in men but not in women compared to the general population. Lung cancer was increased in both genders. The risk of cancer seems to decrease over the last decades, but better exposure assessments to occupational carcinogens and longer observation times are needed.

Smoking, occupational exposures, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis among Swedish construction workers.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking and occupational exposures each have been reported to increase the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease previously considered of unknown origin. We investigated the risk of IPF mortality associated with combined smoking and occupational exposures. METHODS: A registry study of Swedish construction workers (N = 389,132), linked baseline smoking and occupational data with registry data on cause of death and hospital care diagnoses. Occupation was classified by the likelihood of exposure to vapors, gases, dusts, or fumes using a job-exposure matrix. Those likely exposed to asbestos or silica were excluded from the analysis. Age-adjusted relative risks [RRs] were calculated using Poisson regression. Follow-up observation began at age 40 and ended at age 89. RESULTS: Heavy smokers at baseline who were exposed to inorganic dusts during their working life had an increased risk of IPF mortality (RR 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.60), while there was no statistically increased risk in the other exposure groups. There were dose-response relationships between smoking at baseline and IPF mortality among both unexposed and dust exposed workers, with similar risk for dust exposed and unexposed, except among baseline heavy smokers, where workers exposed to inorganic dust manifested the highest risk (RR 4.22; 95% CI 2.69-6.60). Excluding workers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema did not affect the results substantively. CONCLUSION: A clear dose-response relationship was seen between smoking at baseline and IPF, supporting a causal relationship. Occupational exposure to inorganic dusts, excluding silica and asbestos, was associated with increased risk of IPF in baseline heavy current smokers.

Adaptation of the Charlson Comorbidity Index for Register-Based Research in Sweden.

PURPOSE: Comorbidity indices are often used to measure comorbidities in register-based research. We aimed to adapt the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) to a Swedish setting. METHODS: Four versions of the CCI were compared and evaluated by disease-specific experts. RESULTS: We created a cohesive coding system for CCI to 1) harmonize the content between different international classification of disease codes (ICD-7,8,9,10), 2) delete incorrect codes, 3) enhance the distinction between mild, moderate or severe disease (and between diabetes with and without end-organ damage), 4) minimize duplication of codes, and 5) briefly explain the meaning of individual codes in writing. CONCLUSION: This work may provide an integrated and efficient coding algorithm for CCI to be used in medical register-based research in Sweden.

Association between blood pressure and BMI with bladder cancer risk and mortality in 340,000 men in three Swedish cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The relation between obesity, blood pressure (BP) and bladder cancer (BC) risk and mortality remains unclear, partially due to potential confounding by smoking, the strongest risk factor for BC, and not accounting for tumor stage and grade in such studies. We investigated body mass index (BMI) and BP in relation to BC risk by stage and grade, and BC-specific mortality, including separately among never-smokers aimed at minimizing confounding by smoking. METHODS: We analyzed 338,910 men from three Swedish cohorts, with 4895 incident BC's (940 among never-smokers) during follow-up. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals adjusted for smoking status. HRs for BMI and BP were corrected for their regression dilution ratios, calculated from 280,456 individuals with 758,641 observations. RESULTS: Body mass index was positively associated with non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC, HR per 5 kg/m2 , 1.10 [1.02-1.19]) and NMIBC grade 3 (HR 1.17 [1.01-1.34]) in the full cohort, with similar effect sizes, albeit non-significant, among never-smokers. Systolic BP was positively associated with muscle-invasive BC (MIBC, HR per 10 mmHg, 1.25 [1.00-1.55]) and BC-specific mortality (HR 1.10 [1.01-1.20]) among never-smokers, with weaker and non-significant associations in the full cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In an analyses of BMI, BP and BC risk by stage and grade among men, we found modest positive associations between BMI and NMIBC and NMIBC grade 3. SBP was positively associated with MIBC and BC-specific mortality in an analysis of never-smokers, which may reflect the association, un-confounded by smoking, also in a broader population.

Industry mobility and disability benefits in heavy manual jobs: A cohort study of Swedish construction workers.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether change from the construction industry to work in other industries at age 45-55 years lowered risks of disability benefits (DB) later in life (60-64 years of age). We hypothesized that risks would be lowered the most among those changing from the heaviest occupations. Methods The study included men employed in the construction industry during 1971-1993. We selected workers from the largest occupational groups in heavy (concrete workers and painters) and less heavy (drivers, electricians and foremen) occupations. The occurrence of DB in 1990-2015 was retrieved from national registers. Regression analyses were used to calculate relative risks (RR) of DB at 60-64 years, comparing those working in other industries to those still in the construction industry at the age of 45, 50 and 55 years. Results Shifting out of from the construction industry was related to lowered DB risks at 60-64 years in all selected occupations. Effects were most pronounced among those who, at 55 years of age, worked in an industry other than construction, with significantly reduced RR for DB among concrete workers [RR 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.77], electricians (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.47-0.77) and foremen (RR 0.78, 95% 0.63-0.96). Conclusions Risks for DB at 60-64 years of age were reduced among those who changed from construction work to other industries. Notable reductions were observed among workers originating from both heavy and less heavy occupations, and future studies should explore other factors, in addition to heavy workload, as motivators for leaving the construction industry.

Height, body mass index and prostate cancer risk and mortality by way of detection and cancer risk category.

Obesity is a risk factor for advanced, but not localised, prostate cancer (PCa), and for poor prognosis. However, the detection of localised PCa through asymptomatic screening might influence these associations. We investigated height and body mass index (BMI) among 431 902 men in five Swedish cohorts in relation to PCa risk, according to cancer risk category and detection mode, and PCa-specific mortality using Cox regression. Statistical tests were two-sided. Height was positively associated with localised intermediate-risk PCa (HR per 5 cm, 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05), while overweight and obesity were negatively associated with localised low- and intermediate-risk PCa (HRs per 5 kg/m2 , 0.86, 95% CI 0.81-0.90, and 0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.97). However, these associations were partially driven by PCa's detected by asymptomatic screening and, for height, also by symptoms unrelated to PCa. The HR of localised PCa's, per 5 kg/m2 , was 0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.92 for screen-detected PCa's and 0.96, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.01 for PCa's detected through lower urinary tract symptoms. BMI was positively associated with PCa-specific mortality in the full population and in case-only analysis of each PCa risk category (HRs per 5 kg/m2 , 1.11-1.22, P for heterogeneity = .14). More active health-seeking behaviour among tall and normal-weight men may partially explain their higher risk of localised PCa. The higher PCa-specific mortality among obese men across all PCa risk categories in our study suggests obesity as a potential target to improve the prognosis of obese PCa patients.

Hematologic malignancy in tanker crewmembers: A case-referent study among male Swedish seafarers.

BACKGROUND: Work on Swedish petroleum tankers before the late 1980s has been associated with an increased risk of hematologic malignancy (HM). Since then, ship modernizations have decreased occupational exposure to gases, including the carcinogen benzene. We explored the risk of HMs in Swedish seafarers who had worked on newer types of tankers. METHODS: A case-referent study in male seafarers from a cohort of all Swedish seafarers was set up by record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Registry using the subjects' personal identification number. For each case (N = 315), five referents were randomly chosen from within the cohort, matched by birth year and three different periods of first sea service (<1985, 1985-1991, and ≥1992). Information on the type of ship and dates of service was retrieved from the Swedish Seafarers' Registry. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by conditional logistic regression together with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The OR of HM was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.80-1.42) for work on tankers. In seafarers that had started to work on tankers ≥1985, the OR was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.50-1.43). For those who started to work on tankers before 1985, the OR was 1.17 (95% CI, 0.84-1.21) and 1.32 (95% CI, 0.86-2.03) if the cumulative time on tankers exceeded 5 years of service. In this last group, the OR of multiple myeloma was 5.39 (95% CI, 1.11-26.1). CONCLUSION: Although limited by crude exposure contrast and a short follow-up, work on tankers after 1985 was not associated with an increased risk of HM among Swedish seafarers.

Occupational exposure to noise and cold environment and the risk of death due to myocardial infarction and stroke.

PURPOSE: The present study examined a possible association between occupational exposure to noise, working and living in cold conditions, and the risk of mortality in myocardial infarction and stroke. METHODS: The present cohort study consists of 194,501 workers in the Swedish construction industry that participated in health examinations between 1971 and 1993. Noise exposure was defined on a job-exposure matrix based on a survey of the working conditions carried out during the mid 1970s. All workers were categorised into three main regions of Sweden, differing in temperature: Reference (Götaland), colder (Svealand), and coldest (Norrland). Relative risks (RR) were analysed by negative binomial regression adjusting for age, BMI, and smoking habits. RESULTS: Moderate and high noise exposure was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (RR 1.10-1.13 with 95% CI over unit) and stroke mortality (RR 1.15 to 1.19 with 95% CI over unit). There was an increased risk for myocardial infarction (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20), but not for stroke mortality (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.94-1.25) associated with living and working in the coldest region. There was an interaction on the risk of myocardial infarction mortality between different regions and noise exposure (p = 0.016), but not for stroke mortality (p = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates an interaction between working at hazardous noise levels and living and working in cold conditions for increased mortality in myocardial infarction.

Educational differences in duration of working life and loss of paid employment: working life expectancy in The Netherlands.

Objectives This study aims to provide insight into educational differences in duration of working life by working life expectancy (WLE) and working years lost (WYL) through disability benefits and other non-employment states in the Netherlands. Methods Monthly information on employment status of the Dutch population (N=4 999 947) between 16 and 66 years from 2001‒2015 was used to estimate working life courses and loss of working years for specific non-employment states. Across educational groups, bi-directional transitions between paid employment and non-employment states were calculated. Using a multistate model, the WLE and WYL at age 16, 30, 50 and up to 66 years as statutory retirement age were estimated for each educational group, stratified by gender. Results Low-educated men and women had a 7.3 (men) and 9.9 (women) years lower WLE at age 30 than high-educated men and women. Among low-educated men, 3.4 working years were lost due to disability benefit compared to 0.8 among high-educated men. Low-educated women lost 3.0 working years due to disability benefit compared to 1.4 among high-educated women. Conclusions There are large educational inequalities over the course of working life. Among low-educated workers, more working years are lost due to unemployment, no income, and especially disability benefits. The latter reflects large educational inequalities in health and working conditions. The metrics of WLE and WYL provide useful insights into the life-course perspective on working careers.

Impact of changes in welfare legislation on the incidence of disability pension. A cohort study of construction workers.

Aims: Study objectives were to investigate how changes in social insurance legislation influenced the incidence of disability pension. Methods: The study included 295,636 male construction workers who attended health examinations between 1971 and 1993, aged 20-60 years and without previous disability pension. Via the Swedish National Insurance Agency national register we identified 66,046 subjects who were granted disability pension up until 2010. The incidence rates were calculated and stratified according to age and diagnosis. Results: The incidence rate of disability pension was fairly stable until the 1990s when large variations occurred, followed by a strong decreasing trend from the early 2000s to 2010. Trends in incidence rates, stratified by age and diagnosis, showed a consistent decrease in cardiovascular disease for all age groups. In subjects aged 30-49 years there was a high peak around 2003 for musculoskeletal diseases and psychiatric diseases. For the age group 50-59 years, musculoskeletal diagnosis, the most common cause of disability pension, had a sharp peak around 1993 and then a decreasing trend. In the 60-64 age group, the incidence rate for psychiatric diagnosis was stable, while incidence rates for musculoskeletal diagnosis varied during the 1990s. Conclusions: There are considerable variations in the incidence rate of disability pension over time, with different patterns depending on age and diagnosis. Changes in social insurance legislation, as well as in administration processes, seem to influence the variation.

Mortality in persons with disability pension due to common mental disorders: A cohort study of Swedish construction workers.

Aims: This study investigated mortality in disability pensions due to common mental disorder, and variation over time after first receiving disability pension. Methods: Objectives were explored in 301,863 construction workers (97.2% men) recruited through healthcare examinations from 1971-1993. By linking with the Swedish National Insurance Agency registers, disability pensions until 2014 were identified. Common mental disorder was defined as disability pension diagnosis due to anxiety, stress-related disorders or moderate depression. Mortality was calculated in all-psychiatric diagnosis and diagnostic sub-groups, and compared to persons without disability pensions, using Poisson regression. Additional analyses were stratified by age at follow-up. Results: In total 6030 subjects received disability pensions based on psychiatric diagnoses, and 2624 constituted common mental disorder. Analyses in an all-psychiatric diagnosis displayed increased mortality risks in men (relative risk 3.6; 95% confidence interval 3.3-3.9) and women (relative risk 2.1; 95% confidence interval 1.6-2.6). Common mental disorder was associated with mortality, especially in men (relative risk 2.5; 95% confidence interval 2.2-2.8). Increased relative risks in alcohol and substance abuse were also observed. Results in analyses stratified by age at follow-up displayed persistent high relative risks for mortality in older ages (75-89 years) in men in all-psychiatric disability pensions diagnosis (relative risk 2.8; 95% confidence interval 2.1-3.7) and common mental disorder diagnosis (relative risk 2.6; 95% confidence interval 1.8-3.6), compared to men without disability pensions. Similar results were found in women, but few cases lowered the precision of estimates. Conclusions: This study shows that disability pension based on common mental disorders, often regarded as a 'lighter' psychiatric diagnosis, is a risk for early mortality in construction workers, even several years after first receiving disability pension.

Risk factors for subarachnoid haemorrhage: a nationwide cohort of 950 000 adults.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease, with high mortality rate and substantial disability among survivors. Its causes are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate risk factors for SAH using a novel nationwide cohort consortium. METHODS: We obtained individual participant data of 949 683 persons (330 334 women) between 25 and 90 years old, with no history of SAH at baseline, from 21 population-based cohorts. Outcomes were obtained from the Swedish Patient and Causes of Death Registries. RESULTS: During 13 704 959 person-years of follow-up, 2659 cases of first-ever fatal or non-fatal SAH occurred, with an age-standardized incidence rate of 9.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) (7.4-10.6)/100 000 person-years] in men and 13.8 [(11.4-16.2)/100 000 person-years] in women. The incidence rate increased exponentially with higher age. In multivariable-adjusted Poisson models, marked sex interactions for current smoking and body mass index (BMI) were observed. Current smoking conferred a rate ratio (RR) of 2.24 (95% CI 1.95-2.57) in women and 1.62 (1.47-1.79) in men. One standard deviation higher BMI was associated with an RR of 0.86 (0.81-0.92) in women and 1.02 (0.96-1.08) in men. Higher blood pressure and lower education level were also associated with higher risk of SAH. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of SAH is 45% higher in women than in men, with substantial sex differences in risk factor strengths. In particular, a markedly stronger adverse effect of smoking in women may motivate targeted public health initiatives.

Occupational biomechanical risk factors for radial nerve entrapment in a 13-year prospective study among male construction workers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the association between occupational biomechanical exposure and the occurrence of radial nerve entrapment (RNE) in construction workers over a 13-year follow-up period. METHODS: A cohort of 229 707 male construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance programme (1971-1993) was examined prospectively (2001-2013) for RNE. Height, weight, age, smoking status and job title (construction trade) were obtained on health examination. RNE case status was defined by surgical release of RNE, with data from the Swedish national registry for out-patient surgery records. A job exposure matrix was developed, and biomechanical exposure estimates were assigned according to job title. Highly correlated exposures were summed into biomechanical exposure scores. Negative binomial models were used to estimate the relative risks (RR) (incidence rate ratios) of RNE surgical release for the biomechanical factors and exposure sum scores. Predicted incidence was assessed for each exposure score modelled as a continuous variable to assess exposure-response relationships. RESULTS: The total incidence rate of surgically treated RNE over the 13-year observation period was 3.53 cases per 100 000 person-years. There were 92 cases with occupational information. Increased risk for RNE was seen in workers with elevated hand-grip forces (RR=1.79, 95% CI 0.97 to 3.28) and exposure to hand-arm vibration (RR=1.47, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.00). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to forceful handgrip work and vibration increased the risk for surgical treatment of RNE.