A Cohort Study on Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms of Toner-Handling Workers: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis from 2003 to 2008

Table 5

The results of GEE on self-reported respiratory symptom (toner exposure and pulmonary function indices).

Dependent variable	Independent variable	Category	Odds ratio	95% confidence interval
				Lower	Upper
Persistent cough	Toner exposure	Toner-handling group	0.90	0.58	1.38
		Never-toner-handling group	1.00
	%VC	1%	1.02	0.99	1.04
	%FEV1.0	1%	0.98	0.96	1.01
Persistent phlegm	Toner exposure	Toner-handling group	1.43	0.94	2.18
		Never-toner-handling group	1.00
	%VC	1%	1.03	1.00	1.06
	%FEV1.0	1%	0.97	0.94	1.01
Persistent cough and phlegm	Toner exposure	Toner-handling group	1.15	0.60	2.19
		Never-toner-handling group	1.00
	%VC	1%	1.04*	1.00	1.09
	%FEV1.0	1%	0.95*	0.91	1.00
Wheezing without asthmatic response	Toner exposure	Toner-handling group	1.44	0.97	2.15
		Never-toner-handling group	1.00
	%VC	1%	1.08*	1.05	1.10
	%FEV1.0	1%	0.92*	0.90	0.94
Breathlessness	Toner exposure	Toner-handling group	1.98*	1.39	2.81
		Never-toner-handling group	1.00
	%VC	1%	1.00	0.98	1.02
	%FEV1.0	1%	1.00	0.98	1.02

∗In case the independent variables had effects on the results.