Table 1 Bi-variable analysis of the association of chronic bronchitis on personal and environmental factors (n = 720)

Contextual Factors

Socioeconomic

 Annual income

  No income

2/42

4.8

0.73 (0.16, 3.45)

  $0–$9999

16/151

10.6

1.71 (0.77, 3.78)

  $10,000–$19,999

10/110

9.1

1.42 (0.65, 3.11)

  Unknown/Not stated

15/216

6.9

1.07 (0.49, 2.33)

   ≥ $20,000

13/201

6.5

1.00

 Crowding

   > 1 person/bedroom

40/509

7.9

1.17 (0.39, 3.53)

   = 1 person/bedroom

11/137

8.0

1.20 (0.35, 4.15)

   < 1 person/bedroom

5/74

6.8

1.00

Indoor Environmental Factors

 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Household Smoking)

  Yes

37/405

9.1

1.56 (0.87, 2.79)

  No

19/312

6.1

1.00

 House in need of repairs

  Yes, major repairs

23/289

8.0

1.22 (0.61, 2.45)

  Yes, minor repairs

18/198

9.1

1.39 (0.65, 2.98)

  No, only regular maintenance

14/211

6.6

1.00

 During past 12 months, water or dampness

  Yes

33/433

7.6

0.83 (0.47, 1.48)

  No

22/244

9.0

1.00

 House damages caused by dampness

  Yes

33/374

8.8

1.51 (0.83, 2.72)

  No

18/299

6.0

1.00

 Mildew odor or musty smell in home

  Yes

38/369

10.3

2.18 (1.18, 4.03)

  No

15/300

5.0

1.00

 Signs of mold or mildew in home

  Yes

33/336

9.8

1.75 (0.95, 3.23)

  No

18/306

5.9

1.00

 Wood store or wood to heat house

  Yes

1/27

3.7

0.46 (0.06, 3.59)

  No

55/693

7.9

1.00

 House heating system has a filter

  Yes

  No

50/560

6/160

8.9

3.8

2.50 (1.06, 5.88)

1.00

 House has an air conditioning

  Yes

23/186

12.4

2.14 (1.22, 3.75)

  No

33/534

6.2

1.00

 Humidifier used in house

  Yes

3/102

2.9

0.33 (0.10, 1.06)

  No

53/618

8.6

1.00

 Dehumidifier used in house

  Yes

7/73

9.6

1.30 (0.48, 3.51)

  No

49/647

7.8

1.00

 In the past 12 months, pet living in house

  Cat

   Yes

8/109

7.3

0.93 (0.41, 2.11)

   No

48/611

7.9

1.00

  Dog

   Yes

11/167

6.6

0.79 (0.39, 1.61)

   No

45/553

8.1

1.00

  Bird

   Yes

5/31

16.1

2.41 (0.83, 6.96)

   No

51/689

7.4

1.00

  Other

   Yes

2/32

6.3

0.80 (0.18, 3.54)

   No

54/688

7.9

1.00

Outdoor Environment near your home

 An outdoor corral or feedlot

   Yes

13/120

10.8

1.56 (0.80, 3.05)

   No

43/600

7.2

1.00

 A bales stack or bales

   Yes

9/102

8.8

1.14 (0.52, 2.53)

   No

47/618

7.6

1.00

 Grain bins

   Yes

5/44

11.4

1.55 (0.54, 4.41)

   No

51/625

7.5

1.00

 Sewage pond or manure lagoon

   Yes

20/202

9.9

1.45 (0.82, 2.59)

   No

36/518

7.0

1.00

 Garbage dump

   Yes

14/144

9.7

1.36 (0.73, 2.57)

   No

42/576

7.3

1.00

 Lumber yard, carpentry construction or sawmill

   Yes

2/34

5.9

0.71 (0.10, 5.21)

   No

54/686

7.9

1.00

Individual Factors

 Smoking Status

   Current smoker

42/553

7.6

1.05 (0.42, 2.63)

   Ex-smoker

9/97

9.3

1.32 (0.42, 4.16)

   Never smoker

5/70

7.1

1.00

 Education

     < High School

24/352

6.8

0.76 (0.42, 1.38)

     ≥ High School

32/366

8.7

1.00

 Exercise

   Yes

39/498

7.8

1.03 (0.57, 1.85)

   No

17/222

7.7

1.00

 An allergic reaction to

   House dust

    Yes

20/100

20.0

4.08 (2.31, 7.22)

    No

36/620

5.5

1.00

   Cat

    Yes

7/70

10.0

1.37 (0.62, 3.02)

    No

49/650

7.5

1.00

   Dog

    Yes

2/23

8.7

1.15 (0.27, 4.94)

    No

54/697

7.7

1.00

   Grasses, pollens or trees

    Yes

13/88

14.8

2.37 (1.21, 4.63)

    No

43/632

6.8

1.00

   Molds

    Yes

18/88

20.4

4.08 (2.18, 7.62)

    No

38/632

6.0

1.00

   Farm Animals

    Yes

1/18

5.6

0.70 (0.09, 5.28)

    No

55/702

7.8

1.00

   Tobacco smoke

    Yes

10/61

16.4

2.62 (1.28, 5.36)

    No

46/659

7.0

1.00

Covariates

 Age, in years

    > 50

21/128

16.4

5.94 (2.61, 13.52)

   36–50

21/162

13.0

4.56 (1.99, 10.41)

   26–35

6/174

3.5

1.08 (0.40, 2.95)

   18–25

8/256

3.1

1.00

 Sex

   Female

34/375

9.1

1.47 (0.84, 2.57)

   Male

22/345

6.4

1.00

 Body Mass Index (kg/m²)

   Obese (>30)

19/255

7.5

1.21 (0.59, 2.45)

   Overweight (25–30)

18/207

8.7

1.43 (0.71, 2.88)

   Normal (0− < 25)

15/240

6.2

1.00