This study of nurses’ risk of selected chronic diseases in
the context of potential biological exposure compares
the health status of nurses to that of their female siblings.
Self-report questionnaires distributed to each
participating nurse were administered to an historical
cohort of 491 female nurses aged ≥50 years. Questionnaires
covered work and health history of the nurses
and the control group of 232 of their age-matched
female siblings. We developed a semiquantitative exposure
matrix based on workplaces to describe biological
exposure. Risk for coronary heart diseases, high blood
pressure, dislipidemia, and thyroid and liver disease
was significantly higher among the nurses compared to
the controls. Total cancer and diabetes risks were similar
for both groups. Cumulative biological exposure
was associated with liver disease. Employment as a
nurse may pose a risk for cardiovascular, thyroid and
liver diseases. The specific determinants of this
increased risk warrant further investigation.