Prevalence and predictors of occupational asthma among workers in detergent and cleaning products industry and its impact on quality of life in El Asher Men Ramadan, Egypt

Abstract

Cleaning products are mixtures of many chemical ingredients that are known to contain sensitizers, disinfectants, and fragrances, as well as strong airway irritants which associated with lower respiratory tract and asthma symptoms. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors of occupational asthma and its effect on quality of life among workers in detergent and cleaning products industries in El Asher men Ramadan city. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 780 workers. All participants were personally interviewed at their workplaces and were subjected to a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic, work characteristics and asthma symptoms, clinical examination, chest X-ray, spirometer, and bronchodilator test. The prevalence of occupational asthma among the studied workers was 35.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender [odds ratio 1.397; 95% CI 1.09–1.96], manually working participants [odds ratio 3.067; 95% CI 1.72–5.46], and history of atopy [odds ratio 1.596; 95% CI 1.09–2.33] were risk factors for development of occupational asthma. The total mean score of asthma-specific quality of life was significantly lower in asthmatic (5.10 ± 0.49) than non-asthmatic workers (5.89 ± 0.46) (P < 0.01) indicating impairment of quality of life among asthmatic group. Workers in detergent and cleaning products industry are at higher risk for developing occupational asthma that adversely affects their general health and quality of life.

The evaluation of asthma by gender and age groups in Turkey, in 1990-2019: incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years

“…15 Exposure of women to various chemicals, especially in jobs such as food, textiles, and cleaning, is associated with higher asthma. 15, 16 However, occupational asthma is also said to be unrelated to gender. 17 Men are more likely to be exposed to pyrolysis products, plant-based materials, isocyanates, metals, and metalloids.…”

Recent developments in occupational asthma

“…The prevalence of OA to cleaning agents varies greatly according to the type of industry and the country; for example, Ahmed et al [16] reported a prevalence of OA of 35.4% among 780 workers of two Egyptian detergent and cleaning products factories. Female gender, manual work and history of atopy were identified as risk factors for developing OA.…”

Salud ocupacional: rol del personal de enfermería en la evaluación y prevención de riesgos

“…Los productos de limpieza son mezclas de muchos ingredientes químicos y se asocian con irritaciones de las vías respiratorias inferiores como asma (Ahmed et al, 2022), EPOC, rinitis crónica (Dumas, 2021) y lesiones en la piel como quemaduras químicas (Kathare et al, 2022). La exposición a polvo de madera se asocia con cáncer de nasofaringe y senos paranasales (Mofidi et al, 2022).…”