title: Chronic Bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Among Textile Workers in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and predictors of chronic bronchitis and COPD among textile workers in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Karachi, Pakistan, from October to December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male textile workers from 15 mills of Karachi were inducted. Data was collected using American Thoracic Society respiratory questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78-a) and spirometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 372 participants, 29 (7.8%) workers had chronic bronchitis (4, 9.1% aged ≥40 years) and 25 (6.7%) had COPD (12, 27.2% aged ≥40 years). Workers with chronic bronchitis had significantly decreased lung function compared to the healthy workers. Those reporting severe self-perceived dust exposure at work, ≥ 10 pack years of smoking, uneducated, longer duration of work (≥11 years), and ever smokers were more likely to have chronic bronchitis or COPD. In the multivariate analyses, severe self-perceived dust exposure at work (AOR = 7.4; 95% CI: 1.9, 28.0), family history of respiratory illness/symptoms (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.1, 20.9) and lack of education (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 16.9) were significant predictors of chronic bronchitis. Duration of work ≥11 years (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 19.7) and pack years of smoking ≥10 years (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 11.7) were strong predictors for COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high frequency of chronic bronchitis and COPD among textile workers. Multiple important predictors for prevention are identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Asaad Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nafees
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fatmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Muhammad Masood
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sathiakumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013783:Textile Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014797:Vital Capacity