An Analytical Cross-sectional Study to Compare Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Morbidity-Related Quality of Life between Construction Workers with Age-and Gender-Matched Controls.

CONTEXT

Respiratory morbidity among construction workers is one of the most neglected occupational diseases, in spite of the high risk.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to compare the respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and respiratory morbidity-related quality of life between people working in construction sites and the age- and gender-matched controls.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

It is an analytical cross-sectional study.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

People working in the construction sites (mason/daily laborer) for at least 5 years and control group working in other occupations were included. People other than mason/daily laborer and people with a past history of COPD/bronchial asthma before joining the construction industry were excluded.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Pulmonary function test was done and St. George respiratory questionnaire was used to the quality of life. Unpaired -test and Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test were used to compare numeric outcomes and categorical outcomes respectively.

RESULTS

We have included 120 construction workers and 120 age- and gender-matched controls. The Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (mean difference [MD] 0.20, 95% CI 0.025-0.381, value 0.025), FEV1 (MD 0.21, 95% CI 0.061-0.364, value 0.006), and FEV1\FVC% predicted (MD 5.01, 95% CI 1.11-8.92, value 0.012) were significantly lower among the construction workers. The overall SGRQ score was also significantly higher among the construction workers indicating poor overall respiratory morbidity-related quality of life (MD 12.69, 95% CI 10.59-14.80, value <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary function and respiratory function-related quality of life are considerably poor among people working in the construction industry.