TABLE 3.
PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY AND ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS AND SEROLOGIC OUTCOMES*
| Office Workers (n = 50) | Spray Painters (n = 241) | Others (n = 290) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory symptoms, % | |||
| Chronic cough | 2.0 | 15.4† | 13.6† |
| Chronic phlegm | 4.0 | 13.3 | 10.8 |
| Shortness of breath | 4.0 | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| Wheezing | 12.0 | 29.1‡ | 22.6† |
| Frequent wheezing (>1 wk) | 4.0 | 12.5ठ| 4.9 |
| Shortness of breath during wheezing | 4.0 | 16.2† | 10.5 |
| Chest tightness | 14.0 | 18.3 | 14.4 |
| Chest tightness before start work | 10.0 | 8.8 | 7.1 |
| Clusters of symptoms, % | |||
| COPD-like symptoms | 8.0 | 26.1‡ | 20.6† |
| Asthmalike symptoms | 14.0 | 33.6‡ | 28.0‡ |
| Work-related symptoms, % | |||
| Work-related rhinitis | 14.3 | 19.8 | 15.0 |
| Work-related chest tightness | 2.0 | 8.3 | 4.0 |
| Work-related conjunctivitis | 12.0 | 16.0 | 10.4 |
| Positive serology, % | |||
| Atopy (Phadiatop) | 44.0 | 33.6‡‖ | 37.6 |
| Specific IgE | |||
| HDI–ImmunoCAP | 0 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| HDIL–HSA | 0 | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| HDIV–HSA | 0 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| N3300–HSA | 0 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| N100–HSA | 0 | 4.2 | 2.1 |
| Specific IgG | |||
| HDI–ImmunoCAP | 4.0 | 9.5 | 7.2 |
| HDIL–HSA | 32.0 | 50.4‡ | 41.5 |
| HDIV–HSA | 2.0 | 20.0‡¶ | 9.3 |
| N3300–HSA | 10.0 | 23.3 | 15.1 |
| N100–HSA | 4.0 | 34.6‡ | 21.5‡ |
Definition of abbreviations: COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HDI = hexamethylene diisocyanate; HDIL–HSA = HDI–HSA liquid phase; HDIV–HSA = HDI–HSA vapor phase; HSA = human serum albumin.
*
Atopy and specific IgE and IgG sensitization against HDI.
†
P < 0.10; significantly different from “office workers” category after adjustment for atopy, current smoking, age, and sex.
‡
P < 0.05; significantly different from “office workers” category after adjustment for atopy, current smoking, age, and sex.
§
Adjusted for atopy, current smoking, and sex.
‖
Adjusted for current smoking, age, and sex.
¶
Adjusted for for atopy, current smoking, and age.