RESEARCH PAPER
The shape of the maximum expiratory flow-volume curve reflects exposure in farming.
 
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1
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Århus, Denmark
 
2
Department of Occupational Medicine, Aalborg Regional Hospital, Denmark
 
3
Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham, UK
 
 
Corresponding author
Øyvind Omland   

Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Århus, Denmark
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2000;7(2):71-78
 
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ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to examine the effect of farming exposure, respiratory symptoms and smoking on the shape of the MEFV-curve in 1,691 male farming students and 407 male controls and to relate the slope ratio with FEV1 and FEV1 /FVC. Each subject underwent a medical interview and the slope ratios from the MEFV-curve at 75 (SR75), 50 (SR50) and 25 (SR25) %FVC together with FEV1 and FVC were recorded. Histamine bronchial reactivity (Yan method) was measured and skin prick test with inhalant allergens was performed. In smokers, SR75 increased with increasing exposure to: general farming, swine and dairy cattle (p<=0.020). SR50 increased with increasing exposure to farming (p=0.015). In non-smokers, SR25 increased with increasing exposure to swine and dairy cattle (p=0.021) and increased SR25 was associated with sensitisation to house dust mite (p=0.017). Data revealed an interaction between smoking and exposure to farming. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC was not associated with farming exposure or production animals. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (p<=0.003) were lower among subjects wi bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma (FEV1 and asthma only in smokers). SR75 (p=0.037) and SR50 (p=0.024) were increased in subjects with asthma and SR75 was increased in subjects with bronchial hyperresponsiveness, but only in smokers (p=0.002). In conclusion, exposure to farming seems to influence the shape of the MEFV-curve and there are indications of interaction between exposure to organic dust and smoking. These changes are seen only in the slope ratios and not in FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC. However, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC are superior to slope ratios in differentiating healthy subjects from those with respiratory symptoms.
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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