Bronchial hyperreactivity as an early indicator of respiratory system affection in agricultural workers

Abstract EN

-Background : Agricultural workers are exposed to a great variety of respiratory hazards.

Non-specific bronchial provocation was studied for detection of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) among them.

Subjects and Methods : After ethical considerations, 20 male workers in a new integrated farm in Noubaria region were included and a matched group of 20 subjects newly coming for pre-placement medical examination participated as controls.

A cross sectional study utilizing a standardized questionnaire, full clinical examination, computerized pulmonary functions testing, chest x-ray examination and non-specific acetylcholine bronchial provocation challenge was done for all participants.

Results and Conclusions: The MEF75 % was the only significant reduced parameter in spirometric indices among agricultural workers versus controls (p = 0.

037).

BHR was significantly prevalent among agricultural workers (p = 0.

013).

Exposure, duration of exposure, atopy, respiratory symptoms, PEF & MEF75% were the significant variables related to BHR in the study population (p = 0.

002, 0.

01, 0.

001, 0.

01, 0.

044 and 0.

01 respectively) highlighting the importance of spirometric indices and bronchial provocation testing in health surveillance of this sector.