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Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2015.014

Public Health

 

 

Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Agricultural Workers - Influence of Exposure Duration and Smoking


 

Saso Stoleski*, Jordan Minov, Dragan Mijakoski, Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska

Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Republic of Macedonia


 

Abstract

 

 

INTRODUCTION: Job exposure in agricultural workers often leads to respiratory impairment.

AIM: To assess the influence of exposure duration and smoking on chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in agricultural workers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study covered 75 agricultural workers, compared with an equal number of office workers matched by age, exposure duration and smoking status. Standardized questionnaire was used to obtain data on chronic respiratory symptoms, job and smoking history. Lung functional testing was performed by spirometry.

RESULTS: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher in agricultural workers, with significant difference for cough (P = 0.034), and dyspnea (P = 0.028). Chronic respiratory symptoms among agricultural workers were significantly associated with duration of exposure (P < 0.05) and daily smoking (P < 0.01), as well as with daily smoking in controls (P < 0.01). The average values of spirometric parameters in exposed workers were significantly different for MEF50 (P = 0.002), MEF75 (P = 0.000), and MEF25-75 (P = 0.049). Obstructive changes in small airways in exposed workers were strongly related to exposure duration (P < 0.05) and smoking (P < 0.01). Agricultural workers with job exposure more than 15 years had more expressed adverse respiratory symptoms and lung function decline.

CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the influence of agricultural exposure and daily smoking on chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, primarily targeting the small airways.

..................

Citation: Stoleski S, Minov J, Mijakoski D, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J. Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Agricultural Workers - Influence of Exposure Duration and Smoking. OA Maced J Med Sci. http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2015.014.
Key words: respiratory health; agriculture; spirometry; smoking; job exposure.
*Correspondence: Saso Stoleski MD, Mr sci. Center for Respiratory Functional Diagnostics, Institute for Occupational Health, WHO Collaborating Center and Ga2len Collaborating Center, II Makedonska Brigada 43, 1000 Skopje, R. Macedonia. Phone: +389 71 314 435. Fax: +389 2 2621 428. E-mail: sstoleski@yahoo.com
Received: 19-Dec-2014; Revised: 11-Jan-2015; Accepted: 12-Jan-2015; Online first: 13-Jan-2015
Copyright: © 2015 Saso Stoleski, Jordan Minov, Dragan Mijakoski, Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
 

 

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- Stoleski S
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- Karadzinska-Bislimovska J


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- Karadzinska-Bislimovska J

 

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