Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Farmers: Severity and Work-Relatedness

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in farmers, with emphasize to their severity and work-relatedness due occupational risk factors and farming characteristics.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed including 60 cow breeders aged 21 to 65 years, compared to an equal number of agricultural farmers matched by age, job exposure duration, and smoking status. We have used a questionnaire to record the chronic respiratory symptoms, detailed work history, specific farming activities and tasks performed, and smoking history. Evaluation of examined subjects also included lung function spirometry tests, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness testing.RESULTS: We found higher prevalence of work related respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months in cow breeders with significant difference for phlegm (P = 0.039), and wheezing (P = 0.026). Mean values of all spirometric parameters were lower in cow breeders, reaching significance for MEF50 (P = 0.001) and MEF75 (P = 0.000). Significant difference was found for mild bronchial hyperresponsiveness among cow breeders with job exposure of more than 15 years. The risk of developing work-related respiratory symptoms increased significantly with full-time farming, exposure to gases and vapors, and keeping more than 10 cows.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that workplace exposure in farmers may cause respiratory impairment which is closely related to its duration, characteristics, and intensity. The results suggest that cow breeders in general have higher rates of work-related respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness than agricultural farmers, whereas their severity increases with an increase in frequency and duration of animal contact.

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Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in a Sample of Agricultural Workers in Skopje Region

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2014.057 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 327-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Saso Stoleski ◽

Jordan Minov ◽

Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska ◽

Dragan Mijakoski

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Agricultural Workers ◽

Smoking History ◽

Workplace Exposure ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Respiratory Impairment ◽

Mean Values ◽

Significant Difference

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of job exposure and its duration on chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity among agricultural workers.METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including 120 agricultural workers aged 36 to 53 years, compared to an equal number of office workers matched by age, duration of workplace exposure and smoking status. A questionnaire was used to record the chronic respiratory symptoms, detailed job history, specific job activities and tasks performed, and smoking history. Evaluation of examined subjects also included functional lung testing by spirometry.RESULTS: We found non-significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months in agricultural workers with significant difference for cough (P = 0.044), and wheezing (P = 0.031). Mean values of all spirometric parameters were lower in agricultural workers, being significantly different for MEF50 (P = 0.001) and MEF75 (P = 0.000). Adverse respiratory effects and lung function deterioration were more expressed in agricultural workers with duration of job exposure more than 20 years than in those exposed less than 20 years.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that workplace exposure in agricultural workers may lead to respiratory impairment which is close related to its duration.

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Comparison of Bronchodilator Effect of Salbutamol Delivered via MDI and DPI in COPD Patients

SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis Lung Diseases and HIV/AIDS ◽

10.3126/saarctb.v6i2.3054 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 22-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R Shrestha ◽

R Shakya

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Smoking Habit ◽

Dry Powder Inhaler ◽

Smoking History ◽

Dose Inhaler ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

P Value ◽

Total N ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction : Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading problems affecting majority of population all over the world which diminishes the quality of life of the individual and create extra burden to the society as well as country. Inhaled bronchodilator therapy is the mainstay of treatment in the management of COPD. Various inhaled [e.g. metered dose inhaler (MDI) /dry powder inhaler (DPI)] formulations are available and are widely used among the COPD patients in Nepal. Methodology : This is cross sectional prospective study, designed to compare the bronchodilating effect produced when salbutamol is delivered via two devices: MDI (Asthalin® from Cipla) and DPI (Asthalin® rotacap delivered via Rotahaler® from Cipla), in patients with stable COPD. It is proven by previous studies that intervention is necessary to improve the compliance of the patients; all subjects (total n=60; 30 in each group) are counseled and trained to follow correct inhaling technique through particular device. Then their improvements in lung function were measured with reference to the pulmonary function test based on spirometry. Results : Patients enrolled in each group were not statistically different regarding to age (P=0.318), weight (P=0.324) & BMI (P=0.836). Among the total subjects 87% had smoking history and 2% were still smoking and there was no signifi cant difference in smoking habit between the two groups (p-value 0.544 > 0.05). Similarly 91.6 % of the total had exposure to indoor air pollution which had been the major risk factor for COPD. Most of the patients were on stage II COPD (62%). Salbutamol was found to have no effect on vital statistics of patients. Study showed there was no significant difference in the improvement of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (p=0.802), FVC (p= 0.693), FEV1 % (p=1) and PEF (p=0.448) between MDI and Rotahaler groups. Major side effect associated with the MDI users is headache (79%) while those among Rotahaler users were muscle cramps (79%). Even though intervention improved the inhaler using technique among the patients in both the groups, it was found even after counseling, DPI seemed to be better understood by the patients in comparison to MDI (p=0.003 & 0.00). In addition DPI was preferred by most of the patients who were familiar with both delivery systems. It was also found to be cheaper than the MDI. Conclusion : Overall evidence suggests that although both MDI & DPI improve the lung function of COPD patients to similar extent, DPI is cheaper and more preferred and can be easily handled by the patients which can result in reduction of non-compliance. Keyword : COPD; Salbutamol; DPI; MDI; Spirometry DOI: 10.3126/saarctb.v6i2.3054 SAARC J. Tuber. Lung Dis. HIV/AIDS 2009 VI (2) 22-30

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Lung Function and Work-Related Exposure in Pig Farmers With Respiratory Symptoms

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1097/00043764-200008000-00010 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 814-820 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Katja Radon ◽

Susanne Garz ◽

Anna Schottky ◽

Frauke Koops ◽

J??rg Hartung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Work Related

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Effects of Passive Smoking at Work on Respiratory Symptoms, Lung Function, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Never-Smoking Office Cleaning Women

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology ◽

10.2478/10004-1254-60-2009-1941 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 327-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jordan Minov ◽

Jovanka Karadžinska-Bislimovska ◽

Kristin Vasilevska ◽

Snežana Risteska-Kuc ◽

Sašo Stoleski

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Passive Smoking ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Lung Function Test ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Bronchial Responsiveness ◽

Prick Test

Effects of Passive Smoking at Work on Respiratory Symptoms, Lung Function, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Never-Smoking Office Cleaning WomenThis cross-sectional study compares respiratory symptoms, lung function, and bronchial responsiveness between 27 office cleaning women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at work and 57 unexposed controls. The age range of both groups was 24 to 56 years, and none of the women had ever smoked. Information on respiratory symptoms, cleaning work history, and passive smoking in the workplace were obtained with a questionnaire. The subjects also took a skin prick test to common inhalant allergens, a lung function test, and a histamine challenge. Despite smoking restriction in indoor environments, we found a high prevalence of passive smokers in the workplace (32.1 %). In these subjects we found a significantly higher prevalence of wheezing with breathlessness (25.9 % vs. 8.8 %; P=0.036), wheezing without cold (25.9 % vs. 7.0 %; P=0.016), and breathlessness after effort (29.6 % vs. 8.8 %; P=0.014) than in control subjects. Objective measurements showed a significantly lower MEF25 (53.6 % vs. 63.7 %; P=0.001) and a significantly higher prevalence of borderline bronchial hyperresponsiveness (22.2 % vs. 7.0 %; P=0.044) in the passive smokers in the workplace. This study provides evidence of adverse respiratory effects in office cleaning women associated with passive smoking in the workplace. Our findings support a stricter implementation of the current national law to protect respiratory health of all workers.

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Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function of Farmer and Breeder in UTU Village, Tabanan, Bali

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2020.4538 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (B) ◽

pp. 709-715

Author(s):

Ni Luh Putu Eka Arisanti ◽

Ni Putu Ayu Widiasari ◽

Ida Bagus Ngurah Rai

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Vital Capacity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Smoking History ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Lung Function Decline ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Passive Smoker

AIM: The objective of the study was to determine chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function of farmers. METHODS: The study was conducted in Utu Village, Tabanan, Bali with 84 subjects. This research was observational analytic cross sectional study. RESULTS: Three dominant chronic respiratory symptoms in farmers were coughing (15.1%), dyspnea (13.1%), and phlegm (13.1%). Average values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC were 83.75 ± 34.42, respectively, 81.62 ± 34.30 and 104.90 ± 13.90, respectively. Cough was dominant experiencing by smokers (p = 0.008). Mean of FEV1% prediction and FVC% prediction value was lower in passive smoker group than no smoker group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure while farming and raising livestock can cause chronic respiratory symptom and lung function decline in farmers and can be influenced by smoking history and secondhand smoke exposure.

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Relationship between exhaled NO, respiratory symptoms, lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and blood eosinophilia in school children

Thorax ◽

10.1136/thorax.58.3.242 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 242-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

P A Steerenberg

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

School Children ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Blood Eosinophilia ◽

Exhaled No

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Reduced Lung Function among Workers in Primary Coffee Processing Factories in Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112415 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2415 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Samson Abaya ◽

Magne Bråtveit ◽

Wakgari Deressa ◽

Abera Kumie ◽

Bente Moen

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Age Groups ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Control Group ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related

Dust exposure is one of the major risk factors for respiratory health in many workplaces, including coffee factories. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function reduction among workers in Ethiopian primary coffee processing factories, compared to a control group of workers. A total of 115 coffee workers and 110 water bottling workers were involved in this study, from 12 coffee and 3 water bottling factories in Ethiopia, respectively. The chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed using a structured interview, using a standardized questionnaire adopted from the American Thoracic Society (ATS). The lung function tests were performed according to the ATS recommendation for spirometry. The coffee workers had a significantly higher prevalence of coughing, coughing with sputum, breathlessness, work-related shortness of breath, and wheezing compared with the controls. The prevalence ratio of work-related shortness of breath (PR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6–8.7) and wheezing (PR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.3–8.4) was significantly higher for the coffee workers compared to the controls. The coffee workers in the age groups 28–39 years and ≥40 years, had a significantly lower forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s compared to the controls in the similar age groups. The findings indicated the need for longitudinal studies on the possible effect of coffee dust on respiratory health of coffee production workers.

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PO467 Lung Function and Its Relationship With Smoking Status and Respiratory Symptoms In Pure Poland Study

Global Heart ◽

10.1016/j.gheart.2018.09.356 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 475

Author(s):

K. Połtyn-Zaradna ◽

B. Sozańska ◽

K. Zatońska ◽

A. Basiak ◽

D. Gaweł-Dąbrowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Smoking Status

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Work-Related Asthma in Automobile Spray Painters: Two Case Reports

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology ◽

10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1858 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 117-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jordan Minov ◽

Jovanka Karadžinska-Bislimovska ◽

Kristin Vasilevska ◽

Snežana Risteska-Kuc ◽

Sašo Stoleski

Keyword(s):

Occupational Asthma ◽

Diagnostic Procedure ◽

Case Reports ◽

Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Diurnal Variations ◽

The Other ◽

Respiratory Impairment ◽

Work Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Work-Related Asthma in Automobile Spray Painters: Two Case ReportsThis report describes two patients who had developed asthma after working as automobile painters with isocyanate-based aerosol paint for two years or over. In both patients asthma was confirmed using the standard diagnostic procedure. One of the subjects was atopic. One was ex-smoker and the other had never smoked. Neither had a family history of asthma. The symptoms occurred after workplace exposure lasting two years in one patient and three in the other. As both reported work-relatedness of the symptoms, they underwent serial peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurement and bronchoprovocation testing. Significant work-related changes in PEFR diurnal variations and in non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (NSBH) were observed in one patient, suggesting allergic occupational asthma (OA), while the other patient was diagnosed work-exacerbated asthma (WEA). Our data confirm that spray painting is an occupation with increased risk of respiratory impairment and asthma.

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