Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2015.014
Public Health
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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
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.
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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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Minov J
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Karadzinska-Bislimovska J
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