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A case-control study of occupational exposures and systemic sclerosis
Massimo Bovenzi1, Fabio Barbone, Federica E Pisa
1Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Centro Tumori, Via della Pietà 19, 34129 Trieste, Italy. bovenzi@units.it
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|October 8, 2003
Summary
Occupational exposures, particularly organic solvents and certain chemicals, may increase the risk of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Female teachers and textile workers showed higher SSc risk, suggesting other factors may be involved in women.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease with multifactorial etiology.
- Occupational exposures are suspected contributors to SSc development, but evidence remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific occupations, occupational exposures, and the risk of developing systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted in Verona, Italy, involving 55 SSc cases and 171 controls.
- Detailed work histories were collected through interviews, assessing exposure to silica, hand-arm vibration, organic solvents, and other chemicals.
- Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to determine risk associations.
Main Results:
- Female teachers (OR 3.4) and textile workers (OR 2.1) exhibited increased SSc risk.
- Exposure to organic solvents (OR 2.3) and selected chemicals (OR 2.5) showed elevated, though not always statistically significant, risks.
- Men demonstrated a significant increase in SSc risk associated with solvent and chemical exposures when stratified by gender.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a potential role for organic solvents and specific chemicals in the causation of systemic sclerosis.
- Associations with teaching and textile work in women indicate other occupational exposures may contribute to SSc etiology.
- The study acknowledges limitations due to small sample sizes, particularly in stratified analyses, where chance findings cannot be excluded.