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Table 4 Comparison of demographic and exposure characteristics in the underestimation and overestimation groups

From: Misclassification and characterization of exposure to humidifier disinfectants using a questionnaire

Variables

Overestimation group

Underestimation group

Others (true-assumed group)

N

%

N

%

N

%

Sex

Male

193

52.9

150

43.6

1416

51.5

Female

172

47.1

194

56.4

1329

48.4

Unknown

0

0.0

0

0.0

2

0.1

Age at damage (years)

< 10

90

24.7

195

56.7

790

28.8

10s

12

3.3

3

0.9

71

2.6

20s

22

6.0

16

4.7

202

7.4

30s

41

11.2

80

23.3

535

19.5

40s

45

12.3

13

3.8

272

9.9

50s

52

14.2

12

3.5

290

10.6

60s

43

11.8

9

2.6

263

9.6

≥70

33

9.0

3

0.9

148

5.4

Unknown

27

7.4

13

3.8

176

6.4

Smoking status

Current smoker

17

4.7

0

0

109

4.0

Former smoker

88

24.1

17

4.9

511

18.6

Never smoker

260

71.2

322

93.6

2110

76.8

Unknown

0

0

5

1.5

17

0.6

Survival status

Survival

276

75.6

208

60.5

2300

83.7

Death

89

24.4

136

39.5

447

16.3

Job status

Employed

147

40.3

74

21.5

1165

42.4

Unemployed

216

59.2

193

56.1

1432

52.1

Unknown

2

0.5

77

22.4

150

5.5

Ventilation status

Ventilated

214

58.6

245

71.2

1192

61.2

Non-ventilated

147

40.3

90

26.2

590

30.3

Unknown

4

1.1

9

2.6

165

6.0

Sprayed amount

Least

2

0.5

18

5.2

35

1.3

Slightly

10

2.7

38

11.1

203

7.4

Moderate

169

46.3

180

52.3

1461

53.2

Strong

173

47.4

99

28.8

994

36.2

Unknown

11

3.0

9

2.6

54

2.0

Disance between the humidifier and the face of subject

< 0.5 m

131

35.9

51

14.8

752

27.4

0.5 m ≤ − < 1 m

156

42.7

116

33.7

1052

38.3

1 m ≤ − < 2 m

62

17.0

120

34.9

728

26.5

≥  2 m

14

3.8

56

16.3

207

7.5

Unknown

2

0.5

1

0.3

8

0.3

Spraying direction

To breathing zone

278

76.2

173

50.3

1841

67.0

To others

82

22.4

151

43.9

857

31.2

Unknown

5

1.4

20

5.8

49

1.8