Longitudinal decline in lung function in patients with occupational asthma due to western red cedar.

Abstract

Background-There are few reports about longitudinal changes in lung function in asthmatic patients. Patients with asthma had a greater loss of lung function than normal healthy adults. To date, there have been no studies about the longitudinal changes in lung function in patients with occupational asthma. Methods-280 male patients with red cedar asthma (RCA) who were followed up for at least one year were the study group. The exposed controls consisted of 399 male sawmill workers. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVy) was measured with a Collins water spirometer. Changes in FEV, over time (FEVy slope) were calculated by a two point method for each subject. Atopy was considered to be present if the subjects showed at least one positive response to three allergens by skin prick test. Results-Multiple regression analysis was carried out to examine factors that might affect longitudinal decline in FEV,.Patients with RCA who were still exposed had a greater decline in FEV, slope (-26 ml/y) than sawmill workers. Smokers also showed a greater rate of decline in FEV, (-43 mlly) than non-smokers.Conclusions-Patients with RCA who continued to be exposed had a greater rate of decline in FEV1 than sawmill workers. Early diagnosis of occupational asthma and removal of these patients from a specific sensitiser is important in the prevention of further deterioration of lung function and respiratory symptoms.

Longitudinal lung function decline and wood dust exposure in the furniture industry

“…In other studies [3,10], relationships between wood dust exposure and decline in lung function have been revealed, especially among sawmill workers. Sawmill workers exposed to western red cedar were studied in an 11-yr follow-up study including 243 subjects [3].…”

“…A few follow-up studies on sawmills processing western red cedar wood have suggested an accelerated decline in lung function in relation to wood dust exposure [3,10]. Western red cedar is the only type of wood that has been thoroughly studied and it has been revealed that a special compound (plicatic acid) is a causal agent for asthma among exposed workers.…”

Untersuchungsmethoden für die Arbeitsmedizinische Vorsorge bei Platinsalzexposition – eine exploratorische Datenanalyse

“…Bei der Entwicklung einer Platinsalz-Allergie werden betroffene Arbeiter aus einem möglichen Expositionsbereich versetzt (Merget et al, 2001;. Sollte es aufgrund von diagnostischen Problemen zu einer verzögerten Erkennung und Versetzung von Arbeitern, mit der Entwicklung von Berufsasthma, kommen, kann sich ihr körperlicher Zustand weiter verschlechtern (Lin et al, 1996). Gerade für die Sekundärprävention ist es notwendig, diagnostische Werkzeuge zu haben, mit Hilfe derer eine frühzeitige Erkennung der…”

Fifteen Year Follow-Up Study of VC and FEV1 in Dust-Exposed Workers.

“…However, many of the Japanese studies were cross-sectional [2][3][4][5] and only a small number were longitudinal [6][7][8] . In other countries, several longitudinal studies focused on individual occupational categories [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] although studies across categories through a study area were rare 28) . The present study focused on workers exposed to one or more of 17 types of dust categories listed in the Enforcement Ordinance of Pneumoconiosis Law 29) .…”