Table 5.
Association between socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and occupational factors with pulmonary function among traffic policemen (N = 134).
| Variables | FVC (litre) | FEV1 (litre) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Abnormal | χ2 | p-value | Normal | Abnormal | χ2 | p-value | |
| n(%) | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) | |||||
| Age | ||||||||
| 20–30 years old | 12(85.7) | 56(46.7) | 8(100) | 60(47.6) | ||||
| 31–40 years old | 2(14.3) | 28(23.3) | 8.42 | * | 0 | 30(23.8) | 8.26 | * |
| 41–50 years old | 0(0) | 21(17.5) | (3) | 0 | 21(16.7) | (3) | ||
| ≥51 years old | 0(0) | 15(12.5) | 0 | 15(11.9) | ||||
| Race | ||||||||
| Malay | 7(50) | 95(79.2) | 5(62.5) | 97(77) | ||||
| Chinese | 0 | 1(0.8) | 7.56 | NS | 0 | 1(0.8) | 1.39 | NS |
| Indian | 0 | 2(1.7) | (3) | 0 | 2(1.6) | (3) | ||
| Others | 7(50) | 22(18.3) | 3(37.5) | 26(20.6) | ||||
| Educational level | ||||||||
| Primary | 0 | 1(0.8) | 0 | 1(0.8) | ||||
| Secondary | 13(92.9) | 103(85.8) | 0.57 | NS | 8(100) | 108(85.7) | 1.32 | NS |
| Tertiary | 1(7.1) | 16(13.3) | (1) | 0 | 17(13.5) | (1) | ||
| Marital Status | ||||||||
| Single | 6(42.9) | 25(20.8) | 3.42 | NS | 2(25) | 29(23) | 0.02 | NS |
| Married | 8(57.1) | 95(79.2) | (1) | 6(75) | 97(77) | (1) | ||
| Smoking habitsa | ||||||||
| Yes | 7(50) | 78(65) | 1.22 | NS | 4(50) | 81(64.3) | 0.66 | NS |
| No | 7(50) | 42(35) | (1) | 4(50) | 45(35.7) | (1) | ||
| Physical activityb | ||||||||
| Yes | 102(83.6) | 9(75) | 0.57 | NS | 105(83.3) | 6(75) | 0.37 | NS |
| No | 20(16.4) | 3(25) | (1) | 21(16.7) | 2(25) | (1) | ||
| Rank | ||||||||
| Constable | 9(64.3) | 33(27.5) | 6(75) | 36(28.6) | ||||
| Lance Corporal | 1(7.1) | 24(20) | 8.52 | * | 0 | 25(19.8) | 8.05 | * |
| Corporal | 4(28.6) | 51(42.5) | (4) | 2(25) | 53(42) | (4) | ||
| Sergeant | 0 | 12(10) | 0 | 12(9.5) | ||||
| Duration of services | ||||||||
| <6 years | 10(71.4) | 51(42.5) | 11.0 | *** | 7(87.5) | 54(42.9) | 6.53 | ** |
| ≥6 years | 4(28.6) | 69(57.5) | (1) | 1(12.5) | 72(57.1) | (1) | ||
a smoking habit: a physical addiction to tobacco products. Source: Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. In this study, respondents who have experience smoking pipes, cigarettes, or cigars throughout their life would answer yes to the question.
b physical activity: any body movement that works our muscles and requires more energy than resting (e.g. aerobic, muscle-strengthening). Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States. In this study, respondents with weekly routine physical activity, whether its work out or jogging, as long as it is outside of work.
*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001; NS, not significant.