| Abstract |
Study objective: To measure the prevalence of allergic disorders among grape farmers, and to compare the respiratory and atopic status in grape farmers with that of non-exposed controls.
Design: Cross-sectional study
Setting: Malevisi region in Northern Crete, Greece
Subjects and methods: One hundred twenty grape farmers and 100 controls living in the Malevisi region were examined. The protocol comprised a questionnaire, skin prick tests (SPT) for sixteen common allergens, measurement of specific IgE antibodies (EIA) against eight allergens, and spirometry before and after bronchodilation.
Results: Grape farmers were found to have an excess of respiratory symptoms. The comparison with the control group, after adjusting for age, sex and smoking status, showed that the differences were statistically significant for rhinnorrea (OR, 2.7; 95%CI, 1.5-5.1, p<0.001), sneezing (OR, 2.2; 95%CI, 1.2-4.0, p<0.01), and nasal itching (OR, 1.9; 95%CI, 1.0-3.6, p<0.05), but non-significant for asthma-related symptoms. In the multiple logistic regression models, grape farmers were found to have increased work-related symptoms, such as sneezing (OR, 2.9; 95%CI, 1.3-6.6, p<01), rhinnorrea (OR, 2.9; 95%CI, 1.3-6.6, pO.Ol), cough (OR, 3.7; 95%CI, 1.2-
11.4, p<0.05), and dyspnea (OR, 3.8; 95%CI, 1.1-1.3, p<0.05). Prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 40.8% in grape farmers and 26% in controls (OR, 2.0; 95%CI, 1.1-3.5, p<0.02). Increased but statistically non-significant values of asthma prevalence were found in grape farmers (6.7%) compared with the control group (2.0%). The prevalence of atopy was 64.2% in grape farmers and 38.0% in the control group (OR, 2.2; 95%CI, 1.2-3.5, p<0.01). Mean FEVi was significantly lower in grape farmers
than in controls (p<0.05), after adjusting for age, sex and smoking status. Bronchial obstruction was reversible in 23 grape farmers (19.2%) and in 6 (6%) controls (p<0.01). According to logistic regression models, allergic rhinitis, in grape farmers group, was significantly associated with sensitization to pollens (OR, 7.6; 95% Cl, 3.1-18.1, p<0.001), whereas, asthma was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis (OR, 9.3; 95% Cl, 1.1-78.4, p<0.05).
Self-reported itchy rash (OR, 2.4; 95%CI, 1.1-4.9, p<0.05) within the last 12 months, and work-related itchy rash (OR, 4.2; 95%CI, 1.1-20.7, p<0.05) were significantly higher in grape farmers than in controls, after adjusting for age. Self- reported itchy rash, in grape farmers group, was found to be significantly associated with sensitization to pollens (OR, 3.7; 95% Cl, 1.3-10.2, pO.Ol), and allergic rhinitis (OR, 3.0; 95% Cl, 1.2-7.6, p<0.05).
Conclusions: The study mainly demonstrated the high prevalence of allergic rhinitis, self-reported itchy rash, and work-related symptoms in grape farmers compared to controls. It also suggested that grape farming is possibly associated with increased allergic sensitization to specific pollens, low baseline FEVj, and increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness. According to logistic regression models, allergic sensitization to pollens was the most important risk factor for allergic rhinitis and self-reported itchy rash in grape farmers group. Future research remains to evaluate exposure to specific occupational agents and their impact on allergic disorders among the farming population.
|
Collections
