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Spontaneous abortions among Finnish flight attendants
R Aspholm1, M L Lindbohm, H Paakkulainen
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|July 3, 1999
Summary
Working as a flight attendant during early pregnancy may slightly increase the risk of spontaneous abortion. This risk appears higher in recent years compared to earlier study periods.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Reproductive Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a potential link between cabin crew work and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Understanding occupational risks for spontaneous abortion is crucial for protecting reproductive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cabin attendant work and the risk of spontaneous abortion.
- To analyze risk trends over different time periods within the study.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study design.
- Analysis of medical records for 1751 pregnancies among female cabin crew members.
- Calculation of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess risk.
Main Results:
- A slightly elevated risk of spontaneous abortion was observed for flight attendants working during early pregnancy (OR = 1.3).
- Risk appeared decreased in earlier years (1973-1977, OR = 0.4) and increased in later years (1978-1994, OR = 1.6).
Conclusions:
- Suggestive evidence indicates a slightly increased risk of spontaneous abortion associated with being a female cabin crew member.
- The risk may have changed over time, with a higher risk observed in more recent years.