Prevalence and Characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Dairy Farmers

Sasho Stoleski; Jordan Minov; Dragan Mijakoski; Aneta Atanasovska; Dragana Bislimovska; Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.10912

Authors

Sasho Stoleski Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1278-903X
Jordan Minov Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Dragan Mijakoski Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Aneta Atanasovska Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Dragana Bislimovska Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10912

Keywords:

Spirometry, Dairy farming, Questionnaire, Job exposure, Chronic obstructive lung diseases, Smoking

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in dairy farmers, and evaluate the role of job exposure and smoking as predictors for respiratory health impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed, including 83 dairy farmers (mean age: 52.6±8.7 years; mean exposure duration: 23.7±7.6 years) and 80 office workers as a control group (mean age: 52.7±8.2 years) matched for age, smoking habits, and socioeconomic status. Methods for evaluation of study participants included a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months, baseline spirometry and bronchodilator reversibility testing, and diagnostic criteria for COPD. Results: The mean post-bronchodilator values of spirometric parameters are significantly lower in subjects among EG with negative bronchodilator test compared to those in CG, while the mean post-bronchodilator values of spirometric parameters are lower in dairy farmers with negative BD tests exposed more than 20 years compared to those with exposure less than 20 years, being statistically significant for FEV₁/FVC%, MEF₂₅, MEF₅₀ and MEF₇₅. The COPD prevalence is non-significantly higher in dairy farmers compared to controls, and is significantly associated with age over 40 years in dairy farmers (P=0.035). The risk for COPD development in dairy farmers is about 36 fold higher in subjects exposed more than 20 years (OR = 36.00 (1.21-37.77) CI 95%) compared to those with exposure duration less than 20 years, and is about 6 fold higher in dairy farmers who are current smokers (OR = 6.12 (0.95-37.77) CI 95%). COPD is significantly associated with smoking duration among smokers in both groups, while combined effect of smoking, smoking duration, and number of cigarettes smoked daily has a significant impact on COPD development in dairy farmers. According to the GOLD classification, depending on the degree of airflow limitation, mild and moderate types of COPD are detected in dairy farmers, and only mild type in controls, showing no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The study findings recognized the role of farming exposure, and smoking as well, as predictors for respiratory health impairment, and furthermore confirmed their potential to be a predictive factor in the COPD development. These facts should be helpful in detection of critical points for action, indicate the need of adverse occupational exposures reduction through adequate preventive measures and regular health examinations, implementation of relevant engineering controls, smoking cessation programs, and complete and efficient respiratory health assessment.

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