Occupation History Across 20 Years and Subsequent Bladder Health Among Women in the Coronary Artery Risk Development...

We examined whether occupation, repeatedly assessed across 20 years, is associated with women's lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and their impact in midlife adulthood.

Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort study data among women were examined. Occupation was assessed 7 times beginning when women were aged 18 to 30 years (1985-1986 through 2005-2006). The number of assessments that participants reported working in each of 9 job categories was counted (9 variables). In 2012-2013, when women were aged 44 to 61 years, LUTS and their impact (a 4-level composite variable) were assessed. In proportional odds ordinal logistic regression analyses, symptoms/impact were regressed on a single occupation variable, adjusting for age, race, and parity (n = 858).

For each additional assessment that women reported employment in a managerial or professional job, they had 9% lower odds of subsequently experiencing greater symptoms and impact (odds ratio = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.86, 0.96). For each additional assessment that women reported employment in a service job, they had 25% greater odds of subsequently experiencing greater symptoms and impact (odds ratio = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.14, 1.36). Associations remained significant after additional adjustment for education, financial hardship, health behaviors, and health conditions.

Employment in managerial and professional positions across early and midlife adulthood is associated with lower risk for more burdensome LUTS at midlife, while employment in service positions is associated with higher risk. Research is needed to investigate mechanisms by which occupation may influence later symptoms, such as timely access to workplace toilets.