Original scientific paper
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Textile and Agricultural Workers and in Bakers
Jordan Minov
Jovanka Karadžinska-Bislimovska
Kristin Vasilevska
Snežana Risteska-Kuč
Sašo Stoleski
Abstract
To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in subjects occupationally exposed to organic dusts we performed a cross-sectional study including 152 exposed subjects (67 textile workers, 42 agricultural workers, and 43 bakers) and 72 unexposed controls. Evaluation of exposed and unexposed subjects included a questionnaire, skin prick tests to common inhalant allergens, spirometry, and exercise challenge tests (ECT). The EIB prevalence found in textile workers was 8.9 %, in agricultural workers 7.1 %, in bakers 6.9 %, and in office workers 5.5 %. The highest bronchial reaction to exercise was found in ECT-positive agricultural workers (26.1±6.9), followed by textile workers (25.2±7.4), bakers (23.0±5.8), and office workers (21.8±4.4). EIB was significantly associated with atopy and positive family history of asthma in all exposed groups. EIB was significantly associated with smoking duration in textile workers (P=0.039) and agricultural workers (P=0.027). Bronchial reaction to exercise was significantly greater in smoking than in non-smoking textile (P=0.045) and agricultural workers (P=0.032). Our data suggest that the combination of daily smoking and workplace exposure to certain types of organic dusts could contribute to EIB development and severity.
Keywords
alcoholism; health; working capacity; alcoholics anonymous; abstinence syndrome; dependency syndrome; health care; health syndrome; impairments of body systems; prevention; workplace
Hrčak ID:
5959
URI
Publication date:
13.12.2006.
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