More emphasis should be put on early recognition of OA and on the reduction or cessation of exposure after the diagnosis of OA.

In this study, we found that approximately 20% of the cases of lung cancer in men are occupationally related, and that the underreporting of occupationally related lung cancer appears to be considerable. The obligation of doctors to report to the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority should be made better known. Most likely, more patients would have had their lung cancer verified as an occupational illness and could have received injury compensation if they had been aware of the opportunity to apply for this.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the risk of developing respiratory symptoms in farmers and other occupational groups over a period of 11 to 22 years.Methods: The study includes data from questionnaires and interviews in HUNT1-3 in The Trøndelag Health study (HUNT). In all three surveys, farmers can be identified. Two control groups are used. Control group 1 consists of all HUNT participants who are not farmers or fishermen. Control group 2 consists of occupational groups who presumably have low exposure to dust, chemicals or gases, but similar educational status as farmers. The data are analysed in SPSS 25 (IBM, Armonk NY), with use of frequency analyses and multiple binary logistic regressions.Results: Our main finding is that healthy farmers have increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms as wheezing or breathlessness over a period of 11 and 23 years. This increased risk is statistically significant after 11 years of follow-up (HUNT1 to HUNT2), and also after 23 years (HUNT1 to HUNT3). Corresponding results regarding wheezing and breathlessness are found for healthy farmers in HUNT2 after 12 years of follow-up in HUNT3. In a subgroup analysis, we find a highly significant difference in both wheezing and shortness of breath when at work, in believing that the symptoms are caused by work, and in having to change jobs or quit because of breathing problems.Conclusion: Farmers have more respiratory symptoms than controls, and the main symptom is attacks of wheezing or breathlessness. Preventive measures such as ventilation and respiratory protection should be implemented on the farm.

Gi respons på artikler gjennom artiklenes kommentarfelt på tidsskriftet.no. Innleggene publiseres fortløpende på Tidsskriftets nettside og et utvalg av innleggene publiseres også i papirutgaven i spalten «Brev til redaktøren». Redaksjonen forbeholder seg retten til å foreta redaksjonelle endringer. Forfattere av vitenskapelige artikler har tilsvarsrett, jf. Vancouver-gruppens regler. BREV TIL REDAKTØREN

En 39 år gammel mann med helårsrhinitt og akutt dyspné423-5En ung mann med helårsrhinitt plages gjentatte ganger av akutt dyspné. Han får diagnosen astma, men til tross for behandling med terbutalin og budesonid blir han over tid gradvis verre. Først to år etter første dyspnéanfall kommer man frem til en løsning på problemene.Se kommentar side 425 og kunnskapsprøve på www.tidsskriftet.no/quiz