10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY ON THE RELATION BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS AND OCCUPATION

To investigate the relation between occupation and the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we undertook a 10-yea r follow-up survey of male employees of a zipper and aluminum sash fac tor in Japan. Of 1,218 employees we followed 1,087 subjects. We classi fied the subjects into five occupations: managers, technical workers, clerical workers, workers in transport, and laborers. NIDDM incidence was 3.1% for 10 years. The age-adjusted incidence of the workers in tr ansport was the highest and that in laborers was the lowest. We used a multiple logistic analysis for adjustment with baseline characteristi cs such as age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, and family history of dia betes mellitus. Adjusted relative risk of the workers in transport com pared with the laborers was significantly high (3.95). Our work sugges ts that occupation is related to the development of NIDDM. (C) 1997 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.