Relation between regular intake of phenacetin-containing analgesics and laboratory evidence for urorenal disorders in a working female population of Switzerland.

A study group of 623 employed Swiss women aged 30-49 years showing objective evidence of intake of phenacetin-containing analgesics, and a control group of 621 comparable women showing no such intake, were observed for 4 years (1969-72) for laboratory evidence of urorenal disorders. In both study and control groups morbidity was low. There was no difference between the study and control groups with respect to subsequent proteinuria, bacteriuria, and haematuria. The 4-year incidence of low urine specific gravity after overhight thirsting was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (3-8% v. 0-8%) and the incidence of raised serum-creatinine was also significantly higher in the study group (2-9% v. 0-4%). However, when the study group was further subdivided into a sub-group showing evidence of high intake of phenacetincontaining analgesics and one showing low intake, only the high-intake subgroup had an incidence of raised serum-creatinine (5-4%) significantly higher than the control group (0-4%), whereas the low-intake subgroup had an incidence (0-4%) similar to the control group.