14 Given the accumulating evidence that γ-GT is not merely a sensitive marker for liver and bile disorders, but also a risk marker for a multiplicity of other chronic diseases, γ-GT may represent a promising risk marker to identify workers at risk of occupational disability and who may benefit from targeted intervention. A study from Sweden indicated elevated values of γ-GT among middle-aged men before as well as after receiving a disability pension, which was ascribed in this study to overconsumption of alcohol.15 In a previous cohort study from Germany the risk of occupational

check details disability was found to be significantly increased with elevated γ-GT levels compared to those with γ-GT levels in the normal range.16 However, in that former PKC412 clinical trial analysis, the size and follow-up time of the cohort were too small to assess dose-response patterns or the associations of γ-GT with disability due to different causes in detail. Therefore, we enlarged the cohort and extended follow-up in order to assess dose-response patterns with respect to overall and cause-specific disability. BMI: body mass index; γ-GT: gamma-glutamyltransferase; ICD-9: International Classification of Diseases (9th revision). The study cohort at baseline comprised 19,421 male employees from the German construction

industry, age 25 to 59 years, belonging to one of the following occupations: bricklayers (n = 6,204), painters (n = 2,947), laborers (n = 2,874), plumbers (n = 2,804), carpenters (n = 2,594), and plasterers (n = 1,998). They participated in a routine occupational health examination by the Workmen’s Compensation Board for construction workers in Württemberg (in the south of Germany) between August 1986 and December 1992. This occupational health surveillance is based on legislation on health and safety at work and regular examinations are offered to all construction selleck chemicals workers. In the period of recruitment, over 75% of all invited employees

participated in the medical examination and were eligible for follow-up. All participants were members of the statutory pension fund and did not receive a disability pension at baseline examination. They were representative for the underlying population of all construction workers with respect to age, nationality, and type of occupation. All patients gave informed consent regarding analysis of the health data. The retrospective follow-up study was approved by the Ethics Committees of the medical faculties of the University Clinics of Heidelberg and Ulm, by the data protection officer of Baden-Württemberg, and by the Baden-Württemberg State Ministry of Social Affairs.