Table 1.
Selected characteristics of pesticide applicators at BEEA sample collection (unless noted) stratified by subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 0.4–4.5 mIU/L or >4.5 mIU/L)
| Subclinical hypothyroidism | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Total N=679 N (%) |
No N=552 N (%) |
Yes N=127 N (%) |
p-valuea | |
| Age | ||||
| 50–59 | 254 (37.41) | 210 (38.04) | 44 (34.65) | 0.12 |
| 60–69 | 231 (34.02) | 193 (34.96) | 38 (29.92) | |
| 70–79 | 156 (22.97) | 123 (22.28) | 33 (25.98) | |
| 80+ | 38 (5.60) | 26 (4.71) | 12 (9.45) | |
| Raceb | ||||
| Non-Hispanic white | 664 (97.80) | 540 (97.80) | 124 (97.60) | 0.90 |
| Other | 15 (2.20) | 12 (2.20) | 3 (2.40) | |
| Stateb | ||||
| Iowa | 582 (85.71) | 474 (85.87) | 108 (85.04) | 0.81 |
| North Carolina | 97 (14.29) | 78 (14.13) | 19 (14.96) | |
| Body mass index | ||||
| Normal (<25) | 118 (17.38) | 97 (17.57) | 21 (16.54) | 0.86 |
| Overweight (25–29.9) | 301 (44.33) | 242 (43.84) | 59 (46.46) | |
| Obese (30+) | 260 (38.29) | 213 (38.59) | 47 (37.01) | |
| Tobacco smokingc | ||||
| Never | 407 (59.94) | 325 (58.88) | 82 (64.57) | 0.46 |
| Former | 230 (33.87) | 191 (34.6) | 39 (30.71) | |
| Current | 42 (6.19) | 36 (6.52) | 6 (4.72) | |
| Alcohol consumption (last 7 days) | ||||
| None | 322 (47.42) | 257 (46.56) | 65 (51.18) | 0.63 |
| <5 drinks | 206 (30.34) | 171 (30.98) | 35 (27.56) | |
| 5+ drinks | 151 (22.24) | 124 (22.46) | 27 (21.26) | |
| Educationb | ||||
| Less than high school | 26 (3.83) | 18 (3.26) | 8 (6.3) | 0.29 |
| High school graduate | 321 (47.28) | 260 (47.1) | 61 (48.03) | |
| Vocational school/some college | 157 (23.12) | 133 (24.09) | 24 (18.9) | |
| College grad | 162 (23.86) | 132 (23.91) | 30 (23.62) | |
| Missing/don’t know | 13 (1.91) | 9 (1.63) | 4 (3.15) | |
| Raised Farm Animals in the last 12 months | ||||
| Did not farm | 104 (15.32) | 79 (14.31) | 25 (19.69) | 0.06 |
| No | 274 (40.35) | 217 (39.31) | 57 (44.88) | |
| Yes | 301 (44.33) | 256 (46.38) | 45 (35.43) | |
| Applied pesticides occupationally in the last 12 months | ||||
| No | 192 (28.28) | 148 (26.81) | 44 (34.65) | 0.08 |
| Yes | 487 (71.72) | 404 (73.19) | 83 (65.35) | |
| Off-farm job in the last 12 months | ||||
| No | 446 (65.68) | 365 (66.12) | 81 (63.78) | 0.62 |
| Yes | 233 (34.32) | 187 (33.88) | 46 (36.22) | |
| Anti-TPO antibodies | ||||
| Negative | 614 (90.43) | 516 (93.48) | 98 (77.17) | <0.01 |
| Positive | 65 (9.57) | 36 (6.52) | 29 (22.83) | |
BEEA: Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture; TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone
a
Chi-square test for homogeneity
b
Collected at AHS enrollment
c
Collected at the second AHS follow-up