Respiratory status in dairy farmers in France; cross sectional and longitudinal analyses

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 2003-11, Vol.60 (11), p.858-863
• Main Authors: Chaudemanche, H, Monnet, E, Westeel, V, Pernet, D, Dubiez, A, Perrin, C, Laplante, J-J, Depierre, A, Dalphin, J-C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - etiology; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - physiopathology; Allergens; Allergies; Animals; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; blood oxygen saturation; Bronchitis; Bronchitis - epidemiology; Bronchitis - etiology; Cattle; Chronic bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CPOD; Cross-Sectional Studies; current smoker; Dairy farmers; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Dairying; Disease Progression; ex-smoker; Farmers; Farming; FEF25–75; Female; FEV1; forced expiratory volume in one second; forced mid-expiratory flow; France - epidemiology; Health aspects; Humans; Immunology; Investigations; Linear Models; Longitudinal Studies; longitudinal study of respiratory function; Lung diseases; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; non-smoker; Occupational health and safety; Organic farming; Original; Oxygen; Oxygen - blood; Oxygen saturation; Partial Pressure; Pneumology; Population decline; Pulse oximetry; Questionnaires; Respiration Disorders - epidemiology; Respiration Disorders - etiology; Respiration Disorders - physiopathology; Respiratory function; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory symptoms; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Risk factors; Spo2; Vital capacity
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.60.11.858

Aims: To compare respiratory status in dairy farmers with that of non-farming controls. Methods: Longitudinal study in the Doubs (France). From a cohort constituted in 1994 (T1), 215 (81.1%) dairy farmers and 110 (73.8%) controls were reevaluated in 1999 (T2). The protocol comprised a medical and occupational questionnaire, spirometric tests at both evaluations, allergological tests at T1, and a non-invasive measure of blood oxygen saturation (Spo2) at T2. Results: In 1999 analyses, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was higher (p = 0.013), and FEV1/VC (p < 0.025) and Spo2 (−0.7%, p < 0.01) lower in dairy farmers than in controls. In a multiple linear regression model, farming, age, and smoking were significantly and inversely correlated with Spo2. In the whole population, the mean annual decline in FEV1 and FEV1/VC was −13.4 ml and −0.30%, respectively. Farming was associated with an accelerated decline in FEV1/VC (p < 0.025) after adjustment for covariates. No relation between allergy and respiratory function changes was observed, except for FEF25–75. Conclusions: This prospective study shows that dairy farming is associated with an excess of chronic bronchitis, with a moderate degree of bronchial obstruction and a mild decrease in Spo2.