WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2017 Oct;90(7):639-643. doi: 10.1007/s00420-017-1226-y. Epub 2017 May 6.
Animal-related allergy is known to be an occupational hazard among veterinarians; however, there is a lack of data showing to which extent these are affected. We aimed at describing the prevalence of respiratory allergies in this population.
In two repeated cross-sectional surveys in 2006 and 2012 in Bavaria, we examined the prevalence of wheezing, asthma and allergic rhinitis by questionnaires. We additionally performed multiple regression analysis to identify associated factors.
Overall participation rate was above 60%, leading to sample sizes of 512 in 2006 and 596 in 2012, respectively. Prevalences of allergic symptoms ranged from 5.1 to 5.6% for asthma, 17.0 to 20.2% for rhinitis, and 11.4 to 14.3% for wheezing, as well as 7.2 to 11.3% for wheezing without having a cold. The percentage of women in this occupation grew between the first and second survey. There were gender differences in both surveys concerning age and practice type (p < 0.0001). Women had a lower mean age (42.1 vs. 53.0 years in 2012) and worked much more often exclusively with small animals (50.2 vs. 15.9% in 2012). There was a borderline significantly higher prevalence for allergic rhinitis in women than in men in 2012 (20.1 vs. 13.7, p = 0.052). Having allergic rhinitis was clearly associated with wheezing, wheezing without cold and asthma.
In a repeated cross-sectional survey at an interval of 6 years among veterinarians, we found a relatively stable overall prevalence of wheeze, wheeze without having a cold, asthma and allergic rhinitis.
兽医职业性过敏的主要致敏原与动物相关，然而，目前尚缺乏此类人群过敏患病率的相关数据。本研究旨在描述兽医群体中呼吸道过敏的患病率。
我们在巴伐利亚州 2006 年和 2012 年进行了两次重复横断面研究，通过问卷调查评估气喘、哮喘和过敏性鼻炎的患病率。我们还进行了多元回归分析，以确定相关因素。
总体参与率超过 60%，2006 年和 2012 年的样本量分别为 512 例和 596 例。哮喘的过敏症状患病率为 5.1%至 5.6%，过敏性鼻炎为 17.0%至 20.2%，气喘为 11.4%至 14.3%，无感冒时气喘为 7.2%至 11.3%。该职业中的女性比例在两次调查之间有所增加。两次调查中，性别在年龄和实践类型方面存在差异（p<0.0001）。女性的平均年龄较小（2012 年为 42.1 岁，而男性为 53.0 岁），且更多地从事小动物的医疗工作（2012 年为 50.2%，而男性为 15.9%）。2012 年女性过敏性鼻炎的患病率明显高于男性（20.1%比 13.7%，p=0.052）。过敏性鼻炎与气喘、无感冒时气喘和哮喘明显相关。
在 6 年时间间隔的兽医重复横断面研究中，我们发现气喘、无感冒时气喘、哮喘和过敏性鼻炎的总体患病率相对稳定。
