Occupational risk for Crohn's disease: A two-center study.

Abstract Background Occupational factors have been suggested as possible elements in the etiology of Crohn's disease, although evidences have not been fully obtained. Aims This study is to investigate possible associations between occupation and development of Crohn's disease. Methods This prospective study was carried out in two major hospitals during January 2010 and December 2014. Demographic and clinical data were collected for the calculation of standard incidence ratios and 95% confidence intervals by occupation. Results A total of 401 patients with Crohn's disease were recruited into this study. Participants were distributed into 8 major occupational groups, among which “professionists” (17.7%), “service and sales” (18.7%) and “unclassified individuals” (mainly students) (20.2%) took up the most proportions. Increased standard incidence ratios were found in “service and sales” (2.526 ± 0.135, 95% CI: 1.939–3.290), “professionists” (4.216 ± 0.142, 95% CI: 3.194–5.565), and most significantly, in “administrative staffs” (5.476 ± 0.170, 95% CI: 3.926–7.639). In contrast, decreased standard incidence ratios for Crohn's disease were observed in the category of “workers in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and water conservancy” (0.088 ± 0.146, 95% CIs: 0.066–0.117). Conclusion Occupational elements are implicated in the likelihood of development of Crohn's disease.