Table 1 Characteristics of divers and offshore workers

Age (mean (95% CI))

46.9 (45.7–48.2)

46.3 (44.9–47.7)

0.866

Cigarette pack years (median (IQR))

0.6 (0.0–12.5)

0.0 (0.0–20.0)

0.759

Units of alcohol per year (median (IQR))

612 (240–981)

480 (210–956)

0.455

BMI (kg/m²) (mean (95% CI))

27.6 (27.0–28.2)

27.6 (26.7–28.4)

0.487

Years as a diver or offshore worker

17.3 (16.0–18.6)

16.5 (15.3–17.7)

0.403

(mean (95% CI))

Medication or medical treatment (% (n))

20 (29)

31 (37)

0.033

Diagnosed arthritis (% (n))

8 (12)

6 (7)

0.530

Employment status (% (n))

Still working as a diver or offshore worker

47 (74)

80 (89)

<0.001

Other employment

35 (53)

6 (7)

0.236

Employed

89 (133)

87 (104)

Unemployed

2 (3)

3 (4)

Not working - on sickness benefit

0 (0)

3 (3)

Retired

9 (14)

8 (9)

Retirement status (% (n))

Not due to illness

6 (9)

4 (5)

0.575

Due to ill health - caused by diving

1 (2)

-

Due to ill health - unrelated to diving

2 (3)

3 (4)