title: Smoking, respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary function among a population of Hispanic farmworkers.
abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the agricultural Central Valley to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, smoking status, and pulmonary function in Hispanic California farmworkers. Of 759 farmworkers completing questionnaires and spirometry, 747 were Hispanic. The prevalences of current, former, and never smokers (29, 17, and 54 percent, respectively) were comparable to rates in other studies of Hispanics, but daily cigarette consumption (median-five for men and three for women) was lower than in comparison populations. Prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and persistent wheeze were low (1.6, 5.1, and 2.8 percent, respectively). Current smoking, increased age, female sex, and working greater than or equal to 8 months per year in agriculture were associated with increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Adjusted lung function was higher than for reference populations. Hispanic California farmworkers have a similar smoking prevalence to other Hispanic populations, but lower respiratory symptom prevalences and higher pulmonary function are consistent with lower daily cigarette consumption and the "healthy worker effect."
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Gamsky
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schenker
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCurdy
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity