PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - LI, XINJUN
AU  - SUNDQUIST, JAN
AU  - SUNDQUIST, KRISTINA
AU  - ZÖLLER, BENGT
TI  - Occupational Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Nationwide Study Based on Hospitalizations in Sweden
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.110789
DP  - 2012 Apr 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 743--751
VI  - 39
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/4/743.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/4/743.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2012 Apr 01; 39
AB  - Objective. To investigate possible associations between occupation and hospitalization for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a nationwide study. Methods. A nationwide database was constructed in Sweden by linking the Swedish Census to the Hospital Discharge Register to obtain data on all first hospitalizations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of SLE in adults during the study period (1970 to 2008). Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% CI were calculated for different occupations. Two cohorts were defined based on occupational titles recorded in Swedish census data in 1970 and 1980. Results. A total of 8921 male and 42290 female hospitalizations for SLE were retrieved in individuals aged over 15 years. High education (> 12 yrs) was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for SLE among both women (SIR = 0.73) and men (SIR = 0.72). Among men with the same occupation in 2 consecutive censuses, increased risks (SIR) > 2.0 were present among artistic workers (2.52); shop managers and assistants (3.63); miners and quarry workers (6.04); shoe and leather workers (6.93); plumbers (2.21); other construction workers (2.08); glass, ceramic and tile workers (4.43); chimney sweeps (4.54); and military personnel (3.01). Among women with the same occupation in 2 consecutive censuses, no occupation was associated with SIR > 2.0. Conclusion. Occupation may carry significantly increased risk of hospital admission for SLE. Especially among men, several occupations were associated with increased risks for SLE.