Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1988 Nov;43(11):872–877. doi: 10.1136/thx.43.11.872

Respiratory symptoms in Danish farmers: an epidemiological study of risk factors.

M Iversen 1, R Dahl 1, J Korsgaard 1, T Hallas 1, E J Jensen 1
PMCID: PMC461540  PMID: 3222758

Abstract

An epidemiological study was performed with a self administered questionnaire in a representative sample of 1685 Danish farmers. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of self reported asthma, wheezing during work, and symptoms of chronic bronchitis and to evaluate possible risk factors for the development of these symptoms. A response rate of 73.3% was obtained. The prevalence of asthma was 7.7% and of chronic bronchitis 23.6% in responders. The prevalence of asthma and chronic bronchitis increased from 3.6% and 17.9% in 31-50 year old farmers to 11.8% and 33.0% in 51-70 year old farmers, and from 5.5% and 17.5% in dairy farmers to 10.9% and 32.0% in pig farmers. A logistic regression analysis with correction for age and smoking habits confirmed that pig farming was a risk factor for asthma (odds ratio 2.03), chronic bronchitis (odds ratio 1.53), and wheezing during work (odds ratio 3.33).

Full text

PDF
874

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chan-Yeung M., Chan H., Salari H., Wall R., Tse K. S. Grain-dust extract induced direct release of mediators from human lung tissue. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1987 Sep;80(3 Pt 1):279–284. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(87)90032-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Church M. K., Norn S., Pao G. J., Holgate S. T. Non-IgE-dependent bacteria-induced histamine release from human lung and tonsillar mast cells. Clin Allergy. 1987 Jul;17(4):341–353. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1987.tb02024.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Clark S., Rylander R., Larsson L. Airborne bacteria, endotoxin and fungi in dust in poultry and swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1983 Jul;44(7):537–541. doi: 10.1080/15298668391405265. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Curtis S. E., Drummond J. G., Grunloh D. J., Lynch P. B., Jensen A. H. Relative and qualitative aspects of aerial bacteria and dust in swine houses. J Anim Sci. 1975 Nov;41(5):1512–1520. doi: 10.2527/jas1975.4151512x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cuthbert O. D., Jeffrey I. G., McNeill H. B., Wood J., Topping M. D. Barn allergy among Scottish farmers. Clin Allergy. 1984 Mar;14(2):197–206. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1984.tb02653.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Donham K. J., Rubino M., Thedell T. D., Kammermeyer J. Potential health hazards to agricultural workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med. 1977 Jun;19(6):383–387. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197706000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. A. Respiratory symptoms and lung function among workers in swine confinement buildings: a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Arch Environ Health. 1984 Mar-Apr;39(2):96–101. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. Acute effects of the work environment on pulmonary functions of swine confinement workers. Am J Ind Med. 1984;5(5):367–375. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700050505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dosman J. A., Graham B. L., Hall D., Van Loon P., Bhasin P., Froh F. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in farmers. J Occup Med. 1987 Jan;29(1):38–43. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HIGGINS I. T. Respiratory symptoms, bronchitis, and ventilatory capacity in random sample of an agricultural population. Br Med J. 1957 Nov 23;2(5055):1198–1203. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5055.1198. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Harries M. G., Cromwell O. Occupational asthma caused by allergy to pigs' urine. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Mar 20;284(6319):867–867. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6319.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Huhti E., Takala J., Nuutinen J., Poukkula A. Chronic respiratory disease in rural men. An epidemiological survey at Hankasalmi, Finland. Ann Clin Res. 1978 Apr;10(2):87–94. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Husman K., Koskenvuo M., Kaprio J., Terho E. O., Vohlonen I. Role of environment in the development of chronic bronchitis. Eur J Respir Dis Suppl. 1987;152:57–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MANTEL N., HAENSZEL W. Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1959 Apr;22(4):719–748. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Matson S. C., Swanson M. C., Reed C. E., Yunginger J. W. IgE and IgG-immune mechanisms do not mediate occupation-related respiratory or systemic symptoms in hog farmers. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1983 Sep;72(3):299–304. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(83)90035-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Peto R., Speizer F. E., Cochrane A. L., Moore F., Fletcher C. M., Tinker C. M., Higgins I. T., Gray R. G., Richards S. M., Gilliland J. The relevance in adults of air-flow obstruction, but not of mucus hypersecretion, to mortality from chronic lung disease. Results from 20 years of prospective observation. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Sep;128(3):491–500. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.128.3.491. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Warren C. P., Manfreda J. Respiratory symptoms in Manitoba farmers: association with grain and hay handling. Can Med Assoc J. 1980 Jun 7;122(11):1259–1264. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Weeke E. R., Kamper-Jørgensen F., Pedersen P. A. Forekomst af asthma bronchiale i den voksne danske befolkning. Ugeskr Laeger. 1980 Dec 1;142(49):3272–3274. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. van Hage-Hamsten M., Johansson S. G., Höglund S., Tüll P., Wirén A., Zetterstrom O. Storage mite allergy is common in a farming population. Clin Allergy. 1985 Nov;15(6):555–564. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1985.tb02309.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES