Subject: Asthma
Subject: Chronic respiratory symptoms
Subject: Spirometry
Subject: Crop farming
Subject: Questionnaire
Subject: Work-relatedness
Subject: Allergic occupational asthma
Year: 2020
Type: Article
Title: Work-related Asthma in Crop Farmers
Author: Stoleski, Sasho
Author: Minov, Jordan
Author: Karadzinska-bislimovska, Jovanka
Author: Mijakoski, Dragan
Author: Atanasovska Aneta
Author: Bislimovska Dragana
Abstract: AIM: The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of occupational exposure on asthma development among crop farmers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed, comprising 87 crop farmers, and 80 office workers, matched by gender and age. Evaluation of subjects included completion of a standard questionnaire on chronic respiratory symptoms, spirometry tests, histamine challenge, serial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) measurements, and skin prick tests to occupational and common inhalant allergens. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in the past 12 months was higher, while the mean values of spirometric parameters were lower in crop farmers. Sensitization to workplace and common inhalant allergens was similar in both groups, whereas frequencies of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and asthma were non-significantly higher in crop farmers. The prevalence of allergic was significantly higher compared to non-allergic asthma in both groups. Asthma was registered in 8% of crop farmers and was significantly associated with atopy, and positive family history of asthma. Occupational allergic asthma (OA) was registered in 2.3% of crop farmers, while the frequency of work-aggravated asthma was 5.7%. A causal relationship between workplace and asthma, suggesting allergic OA, was documented in two crop farmers with asthma, based on serial PEFR monitoring, but specific workplace agent causing asthma in the affected subjects was not identified. CONCLUSION: The obtained results can contribute in the detection of critical points for action, and serve as a predictive factor in the development of work-related asthma, indicating the need for reduction of adverse occupational exposures through adequate preventive measures, regular health examinations, obligatory use of respiratory protective equipment, and implementation of engineering controls.
Publisher: Scientific Foundation SPIROSKI, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Relation: Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
Identifier: oai:repository.ukim.mk:20.500.12188/9691
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12188/9691Identifier: 10.3889/oamjms.2020.5255
