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A cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of distal airway obstruction and to identify risk factors for obstructive diseases. Respiratory symptoms and lung function among 1,122 French farmers and their spouses who presented for a preventive medicine examination were assessed. The prevalence of chronic cough among respiratory symptoms was 8.4%; chronic bronchitis was 7.66%. Distal airway obstruction was 11.4% and overall airflow obstruction was present 3.2% of the time. The age of the person and the size of the farm were significantly related with these variables in persons without any history of cardiac or respiratory diseases and who did not smoke. The authors conclude that distal airway obstruction is prevalent in agricultural areas, and that age and size of the farm are the greatest risk factors among nonsmoking agricultural workers.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 52(9):581-586, 1995. (28 references)
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