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Occupational categories at risk for Parkinson's disease
K L Kirkey1, C C Johnson, B A Rybicki
1Departments of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA. kkirkey1@hfhs.org
Background:
The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to have a strong environmental component, but relatively few studies have investigated the potential association between occupation and the disease.
Methods:
In a population-based case-control study, we collected comprehensive occupational histories from all study participants, 144 case and 464 control subjects.
Results:
Chi-square analysis revealed that working in an agricultural occupation increased estimated PD risk (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.85, 3.60). In contrast, a history of ever working in a service occupation was negatively associated with PD risk (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.47, 1.00). Risk estimates were close to one for specific service occupations. Adjusted odds ratios for all non-service occupational and industrial categories were similar, and working in a service occupation was the only significant inverse predictor of PD risk.
Conclusions:
Future investigations focusing on lifestyle factors and environmental exposures within the agricultural and service occupational categories are warranted.