Associations Between Occupational Exposures and Cough Subclasses Among Middle-Aged Australians

Abstract

Background and Objective: The evidence around occupation-related chronic cough is conflicting and current definitions of chronic cough cannot capture its heterogeneity. Using our recently characterised novel cough subclasses, we aimed to identify subclass-specific occupational risks. Methods: Using data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), occupational exposures up to age 53 years were coded using the ALOHA+ Job Exposure Matrix, into ever-exposure (no, only-low, ever-high) and cumulative exposure. People belonging to six previously identified cough subclasses among 2213 current coughers at age 53 years were compared to non-coughers (n = 1396). Associations with occupational e..