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Arch Iran Med. 2021;24(9): 696-700.
doi: 10.34172/aim.2021.100

Scopus ID: 85117422326
  Abstract View: 1713
  PDF Download: 929

Original Article

Evaluation of Work-Related Symptoms by Job Exposure Matrix in Chronic Pulmonary Diseases - A Cross-sectional Study

Lahya Afshari Saleh 1 ORCID logo, Atefeh Matoori 2, Reza Basiri 3, Habibollah Esmaily 4, Farzaneh Rahimpour 2, Roshanak Hazrati 2 ORCID logo, Mahnaz Amini 3* ORCID logo

1 Department of Occupational Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Department of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Lung Disease Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Faculty of Hygiene, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding Author: Mahnaz Amini, MD; Lung Disease Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Tel: +98-9153110457; Fax: +98-51-38827048; Email: , Email: aminim@mums.ac.ir

Abstract

Background: Despite the high prevalence of occupational airway disorders, they are usually underestimated by physicians. This study designed to study the prevalence of work-related symptoms (WRS) and their association with occupational exposure in outpatient pulmonary clinics.

Methods: Adults with more than one year of lower respiratory symptoms were included. Retired patients, housewives and those unable to perform spirometry were excluded. Demographic, anthropometric and medical data were documented. The Persian version of National institute for health and safety respiratory questionnaire was used to classify job titles. WRS were defined as 2 (or more) positive questions with improvement of symptoms on days off work. Job exposure matrix (JEM) was used for classifying the type of occupational exposure into one of three categories: high molecular weight (HKW), low molecular weight (LMW) and mixed.

Results: A total of 250 patients (69% male) with mean (±SD) age of 40 (±11.6) years, 178 cases of asthma and 59 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases entered. Occupational exposure was seen in 51.2% of patients (26, 51 and 51 cases with HMW, LMW and mixed, respectively). WRS were lower in those who exercised regularly (24.6% vs. 39.4%) and higher in those with eczema (62.5% vs. 33.6%). Eczema had an odds ratio (OR) of 4.13 (95% CI 1.3 to 12.9, P = 0.01). Exposure to LMW almost tripled the risk of WRS (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.9, P = 0.003) in our patients.

Conclusion: Pulmonologists are firmly advised to take their patients’ occupational and vocational exposures into consideration for treatment plans, especially in those with positive history of eczema and exposure to LMW.



Cite this article as: Afshari Saleh L, Matoori A, Basiri R, Esmaily H, Rahimpour F, Hazrati R, et al. Evaluation of work-related symptoms by job exposure matrix in chronic pulmonary diseases - a cross-sectional study. Arch Iran Med. 2021;24(9):696-700. doi: 10.34172/aim.2021.100
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Abstract View: 1714

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Submitted: 01 Oct 2019
Revision: 16 Oct 2020
Accepted: 28 Oct 2020
ePublished: 01 Sep 2021
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