Vogelzang P F, van der Gulden J W, Tielen M J, Folgering H, van Schayck C P
Dept of General Practice and Social Medicine, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Eur Respir J. 1999 Jan;13(1):187-9. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.13a34.x.
In cross-sectional surveys among pig farmers an elevated prevalence of chronic bronchitis is usually reported, but not of asthma, despite many factors promoting the manifestation of asthma. To investigate this apparent contradiction a postal questionnaire survey was performed among 239 pig farmers and 311 rural controls. Pig farmers reported an elevated prevalence of symptoms of chronic bronchitis (20.2 versus 7.7%, p<0.001), but not of asthma (5.9 versus 5.5% for chest tightness). Among pig farmers the use of disinfectants (prevalence odds ratio (POR) 9.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-57.2 for quaternary ammonium compounds) and aspects of the disinfecting procedure were associated with the prevalence of asthma symptoms. Compared with controls, pig farmers reported fewer allergies to common allergens (4.6 versus 14.6%, p<0.001 for pollen) and fewer symptoms of atopy in childhood (9.9 versus 17.2, p<0.05 for one or more of four symptoms). Atopy in childhood was strongly associated with the prevalence of asthma symptoms (POR 4.1, 95% CI 2.2-7.7), but not with chronic bronchitis. Health-based selection of nonasthmatics for pig farming, which tends to mask a work-related hazard for asthma, is offered as an explanation for these results.
在针对养猪户的横断面调查中，通常报告慢性支气管炎的患病率升高，但哮喘患病率并未升高，尽管有许多因素会促使哮喘显现。为了研究这一明显的矛盾，对239名养猪户和311名农村对照者进行了邮政问卷调查。养猪户报告慢性支气管炎症状的患病率升高（分别为20.2%和7.7%，p<0.001），但哮喘患病率未升高（胸闷症状分别为5.9%和5.5%）。在养猪户中，消毒剂的使用（季铵化合物的患病率比值比（POR）为9.4，95%置信区间（CI）为1.6 - 57.2）以及消毒程序的某些方面与哮喘症状的患病率相关。与对照组相比，养猪户报告对常见过敏原的过敏较少（花粉过敏分别为4.6%和14.6%，p<0.001），儿童期特应性症状也较少（四种症状中一种或多种症状分别为9.9和17.2，p<0.05）。儿童期特应性与哮喘症状的患病率密切相关（POR为4.1，95%CI为2.2 - 7.7），但与慢性支气管炎无关。基于健康因素选择非哮喘患者从事养猪业，这往往掩盖了与工作相关的哮喘风险，以此作为这些结果的一种解释。
