CARDIO-RESPIRATORY DISORDERS AMONG SEWAGE WORKERS | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 7, Volume 33, Issue 2, July 2009, Pages 197-209 PDF (216.75 K) | ||
| Document Type: Study paper | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2009.679 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Fahmy C.1; Mansour A.2; Kamel A.2; Moselhi M.2; Abbas F.2 | ||
| 1Department of Occupational Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandia Univiversity | ||
| 2Department of Occupational Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandia Univiversity. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Objective: The present study was designed to investigate cardio-respiratory disorders among sewage workers in Alexandria in order to suggest the suitable preventive measures for this sector. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 67 male sewage workers and a control group of 60 non-exposed matched persons. All participants of the study were subjected to an interview using a pre-designed questionnaire and clinical general and systemic examinations as well as specific investigations including resting ECG, pulmonary function testing, plain chest X-ray and measurement of the level of sulf-hemoglobin. Results: This study showed high smoking rate among sewage workers in comparison to controls (p=0.010). The resting ECG changes reported among the exposed workers in the present study were mainly left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and ischemic changes (p=0.027). Sulf-hemoglobin level was an independent determinant factor in multiple logistic regression models with LVH and ischemic changes as the dependent variables (p= 0.050 and 0.000 respectively). Significant reductions in percent predicted FVC and FEV1 among the exposed group versus controls (p=0.000 and 0.001 respectively), suggesting a restrictive pattern of impairment, were observed. Respiratory manifestations were the independent determinant for FVC and FEV1 in multiple regression analyses (p= 0.031 & 0.05 respectively). Conclusion: Cardio-respiratory disorders among sewage workers should be considered in health surveillance of this sector with emphasis on antismoking measures. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Sewage workers, cardio-respiratory disorders, left ventricular hypertrophy,; ischemic changes, pulmonary functions, sulf-hemoglobin | ||
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