Detection of respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to aerodispersoids with normal spirometry

Introdução: A asma relacionada ao trabalho é a doença respiratória ocupacional mais comum e engloba a asma ocupacional e a asma agravada pelo trabalho. No Brasil, a legislação (NR7) determina que exames espirométricos sejam realizados periodicamente para os trabalhadores expostos a aerodispersóides. Essa determinação teria, entre seus propósitos, o de detectar doenças respiratórias, incluindo asma, mais precocemente e reduzir o risco ao trabalhador. No entanto, a capacidade dessa rotina em detectar a asma precocemente necessita de confirmação. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a ocorrência de sintomas nos trabalhadores expostos à aerodispersóides que apresentam espirometria normal. Assim, conheceremos as possibilidades de haver doença respiratória nesses casos. O estudo foi desenvolvido com 180 trabalhadores da cidade de Franca que apresentam exposição à aerodispersóides e que tinham espirometria normal; foi aplicado um questionário testado e validado para sintomas respiratórios e relação desses sintomas com o ambiente de trabalho. Resultados: Os sintomas foram detectados em 48 (26,7%) dos trabalhadores. Algum sintoma, incluindo sintoma nasal e prurido ocular, foi detectado em 26,7% da amostra de trabalhadores com espirometria normal. Dentre os sintomas compatíveis com asma, falta de ar estava presente em 8,3% da amostra; tosse, em 7,7% da amostra e sibilos em 3,3%. O tempo médio de exposição de 67 meses e idade média de 37 anos todos com espirometria normal. Conclusão: O presente estudo permitiu identificar os sintomas respiratórios apresentados pelos trabalhadores expostos a aerodispersóides, tipo e tempo de exposição, dados esses que podem contribuir para o melhor planejamento das ações de prevenção de doenças respiratórias ocupacionais. É possível haver doença respiratória, inclusive asma, em trabalhadores com espirometria normal, o que sugere que um questionário de sintomas poderia melhorar a capacidade de detectar doença respiratória ocupacional nos trabalhadores expostos.Introduction: Work-related asthma is the most common occupational respiratory disease and includes both occupational asthma and asthma aggravated by work. In Brazil, the legislation (NR7) determines that spirometry exams be performed on a regular basis for workers exposed to aerodispersoids. Among other purposes, this determination aims at the early detection of respiratory diseases, including asthma, in order to reduce the risks to workers. However, the effectiveness of this routine in the early detection of asthma needs to be confirmed. The objective of this study was to analyze the occurrence of symptoms in workers exposed to aerodispersoids presenting normal spirometry. This will evidence the possibilities of presence of respiratory disease in these cases. The study was developed with 180 workers from the city of Franca, presenting exposure to aerodispersoids and who had normal spirometry values; a questionnaire tested and validated in previous studies was applied in order to obtain data on respiratory symptoms and the relationship of these symptoms to the work environment. Results: The symptoms were detected in 48 (26.7%) workers. A symptom, including nasal symptom and ocular pruritus, was detected in 26.7% of the sample of workers with normal spirometry values. Among the symptoms compatible with asthma, dyspnea was present in 8.3% of the sample; cough in 7.7% of the sample, and respiratory sounds in 3.3%. The mean time of exposure was 67 months and the mean age was 37 years, all with normal spirometry values. Conclusion: The present study allowed to identify the respiratory symptoms presented by workers exposed to aerodispersoids, and type and time of exposure, which can contribute for a better planning of preventive actions for respiratory diseases. It is possible to find respiratory diseases, including asthma, in workers with normal spirometry values, which suggests that a questionnaire of symptoms could improve the ability to detect occupational respiratory diseases in exposed workers

Detection of respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to aerodispersoids with normal spirometry

Introdução: A asma relacionada ao trabalho é a doença respiratória ocupacional mais comum e engloba a asma ocupacional e a asma agravada pelo trabalho. No Brasil, a legislação (NR7) determina que exames espirométricos sejam realizados periodicamente para os trabalhadores expostos a aerodispersóides. Essa determinação teria, entre seus propósitos, o de detectar doenças respiratórias, incluindo asma, mais precocemente e reduzir o risco ao trabalhador. No entanto, a capacidade dessa rotina em detectar a asma precocemente necessita de confirmação. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a ocorrência de sintomas nos trabalhadores expostos à aerodispersóides que apresentam espirometria normal. Assim, conheceremos as possibilidades de haver doença respiratória nesses casos. O estudo foi desenvolvido com 180 trabalhadores da cidade de Franca que apresentam exposição à aerodispersóides e que tinham espirometria normal; foi aplicado um questionário testado e validado para sintomas respiratórios e relação desses sintomas com o ambiente de trabalho. Resultados: Os sintomas foram detectados em 48 (26,7%) dos trabalhadores. Algum sintoma, incluindo sintoma nasal e prurido ocular, foi detectado em 26,7% da amostra de trabalhadores com espirometria normal. Dentre os sintomas compatíveis com asma, falta de ar estava presente em 8,3% da amostra; tosse, em 7,7% da amostra e sibilos em 3,3%. O tempo médio de exposição de 67 meses e idade média de 37 anos todos com espirometria normal. Conclusão: O presente estudo permitiu identificar os sintomas respiratórios apresentados pelos trabalhadores expostos a aerodispersóides, tipo e tempo de exposição, dados esses que podem contribuir para o melhor planejamento das ações de prevenção de doenças respiratórias ocupacionais. É possível haver doença respiratória, inclusive asma, em trabalhadores com espirometria normal, o que sugere que um questionário de sintomas poderia melhorar a capacidade de detectar doença respiratória ocupacional nos trabalhadores expostos.Introduction: Work-related asthma is the most common occupational respiratory disease and includes both occupational asthma and asthma aggravated by work. In Brazil, the legislation (NR7) determines that spirometry exams be performed on a regular basis for workers exposed to aerodispersoids. Among other purposes, this determination aims at the early detection of respiratory diseases, including asthma, in order to reduce the risks to workers. However, the effectiveness of this routine in the early detection of asthma needs to be confirmed. The objective of this study was to analyze the occurrence of symptoms in workers exposed to aerodispersoids presenting normal spirometry. This will evidence the possibilities of presence of respiratory disease in these cases. The study was developed with 180 workers from the city of Franca, presenting exposure to aerodispersoids and who had normal spirometry values; a questionnaire tested and validated in previous studies was applied in order to obtain data on respiratory symptoms and the relationship of these symptoms to the work environment. Results: The symptoms were detected in 48 (26.7%) workers. A symptom, including nasal symptom and ocular pruritus, was detected in 26.7% of the sample of workers with normal spirometry values. Among the symptoms compatible with asthma, dyspnea was present in 8.3% of the sample; cough in 7.7% of the sample, and respiratory sounds in 3.3%. The mean time of exposure was 67 months and the mean age was 37 years, all with normal spirometry values. Conclusion: The present study allowed to identify the respiratory symptoms presented by workers exposed to aerodispersoids, and type and time of exposure, which can contribute for a better planning of preventive actions for respiratory diseases. It is possible to find respiratory diseases, including asthma, in workers with normal spirometry values, which suggests that a questionnaire of symptoms could improve the ability to detect occupational respiratory diseases in exposed workers

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with airway hyperresponsiveness. Spirometry is the most commonly used test among asthmatic patients. Another functional test used for diagnosing asthma is the bronchial challenge test. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of spirometry for detecting asthma in the general population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with data analysis to evaluate the accuracy of spirometry through calculating sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and through the kappa agreement test. METHODS: Subjects who constituted a birth cohort were enrolled at the age of 23 to 25 years. Spirometric abnormality was defined as reduced forced expiratory volume in one second, i.e. lower than 80% of the predicted value. Measurement of bronchial responsiveness was performed by means of the bronchial challenge test with methacholine. The gold-standard diagnosis of asthma was defined as the presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in association with respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Asthma was detected in 200 subjects (10.4%) out of the sample of 1922 individuals. Spirometric abnormality was detected in 208 subjects (10.9%) of the sample. The specificity of spirometric abnormality for detecting asthma was 90%, sensitivity was 23%, positive predictive value was 22%, and negative predictive value was 91%. The kappa test revealed weak agreement of 0.13 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.07-0.19) between spirometry and the diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: Spirometry, as a single test, has limitations for detecting asthma in the general population

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study

<div><p>ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with airway hyperresponsiveness. Spirometry is the most commonly used test among asthmatic patients. Another functional test used for diagnosing asthma is the bronchial challenge test. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of spirometry for detecting asthma in the general population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with data analysis to evaluate the accuracy of spirometry through calculating sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and through the kappa agreement test. METHODS: Subjects who constituted a birth cohort were enrolled at the age of 23 to 25 years. Spirometric abnormality was defined as reduced forced expiratory volume in one second, i.e. lower than 80% of the predicted value. Measurement of bronchial responsiveness was performed by means of the bronchial challenge test with methacholine. The gold-standard diagnosis of asthma was defined as the presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in association with respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Asthma was detected in 200 subjects (10.4%) out of the sample of 1922 individuals. Spirometric abnormality was detected in 208 subjects (10.9%) of the sample. The specificity of spirometric abnormality for detecting asthma was 90%, sensitivity was 23%, positive predictive value was 22%, and negative predictive value was 91%. The kappa test revealed weak agreement of 0.13 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.07-0.19) between spirometry and the diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: Spirometry, as a single test, has limitations for detecting asthma in the general population.</p></div