Respiratory status in dairy farmers in France; cross sectional and longitudinal analyses.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Chaudemanche
H
H
Department of Chest Diseases, University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Monnet
E
E
Westeel
V
V
Pernet
D
D
Dubiez
A
A
Perrin
C
C
Laplante
J-J
JJ
Depierre
A
A
Dalphin
J-C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002417:Cattle; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D010100:Oxygen