Respiratory functions of the people orking in solid waste storage centers in Istanbul Istanbul'da kati atik depolama merkezlerinde çalisan kisilerde solunum fonksiyonlari

Objective: Solid storage sanitarian workers are exposed to many chemical and physical hazards. The aim of this study is to find out the environmental effects of the work-places on the respiratory functions of the people working in solid waste storage centers. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study took place in Istanbul. It involved 592 solid waste sanitarian workers who worked in ten different storage areas. The study was carried out between October, 2006 and February, 2007. After the basic physical examination, respiratory functions were measured by Spirometer and the workers questioned about asthma. Moreover, the atmosphere of the working areas in the factories was assessed microbiologically. Results: The study group of 592 workers consisted of 592 (100%) males. The mean age of the workers involved in the study was 38.5±8.1 and their average working year 4.7±3.9. Microorganisms were reproduced in different areas at different rates. Among the workers who were given a physical examination, wheeze, rhonchus and signs of bronchial obstruction were detected in 125 (21.1%) people. The number of people with indications of obstruction was 188 (31.8%). Types of the fungi isolated from ten different areas in the ambient air: Aspergillius sp (78.8%), Cladosporium sp (12.1%), Penicillium sp (5.5%), Alternaria sp (4.4%), Rhizopus sp (2.7%), Tricoderma sp (1.1%), Fusarium sp (0.9%) formed flora. Conclusion: It is concluded that solid waste storage workers are at risk of developing both acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilator capacity impairment as a result of occupational biological exposures

RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WORKING IN SOLID WASTE STORAGE CENTERS IN ISTANBUL

Objective: Solid storage sanitarian workers are exposed to many chemical and physical hazards. The aim of this study is to find out the environmental effects of the work-places on the respiratory functions of the people working in solid waste storage centers

Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry

Introduction: National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention. Methods: Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022. A web-based application was used to record data. Study outcomes were demographic features, disease characteristics, asthma control levels, and phenotypes. Results: The registry included 2053 patients from 36 study centers in Turkey. Female subjects dominated the group (n = 1535, 74.8%). The majority of the patients had allergic (n = 1158, 65.3%) and eosinophilic (n = 1174, 57.2%) asthma. Six hundred nineteen (32.2%) of the patients had obese asthma. Severe asthma existed in 670 (32.6%) patients. Majority of cases were on step 3–5 treatment (n: 1525; 88.1%). Uncontrolled asthma was associated with low educational level, severe asthma attacks in the last year, low FEV1, existence of chronic rhinosinusitis and living in particular regions. Conclusion: The picture of this registry showed a dominancy of middle-aged obese women with moderate-to-severe asthma. We also determined particular strategic targets such as low educational level, severe asthma attacks, low FEV1, and chronic rhinosinusitis to decrease uncontrolled asthma in our country. Moreover, some regional strategies may also be needed as uncontrolled asthma is higher in certain regions. We believe that these data will guide authorities to reestablish national asthma programs to improve asthma service delivery

Characteristics of asthma in an older adult population according to sex and control level: why are asthma symptoms in older women not well-controlled?

ObjectiveThe older adult population in Turkey has increased by 22.6% in the last 5 years, and the characteristics of such patients with asthma remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of older adults with asthma according to sex and asthma control status to provide an in-depth overview of asthma in this population in Turkey.MethodsThe data of older adults (age 65 years and over) with asthma were obtained from a multicenter, cross-sectional asthma database registry (Turkish Adult Asthma Registry, TAAR) funded by the Turkish Thoracic Society. Comparisons were made based on sex and asthma control levels using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Asthma Symptom Control Questionnaire.ResultsOf the 2053 (11.5%) patients registered with the TAAR, 227 were older adults (median age, 69 (8), women, 75.8% (n = 172)). Of these, 46.5% (n = 101) had obesity to some degree. Compared with men, women had lower education, income levels, and employment rates. Additionally, women exhibited a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and thyroid gland disease than men. Being female (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.307-6.880), the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.855; 95% CI: 1.330-6.130), and a predicted forced expiratory volume in the first-second value lower than 80% (OR: 2.938; 95% CI: 1.451-5.948) were associated with poorly controlled asthma.ConclusionsHerein, older adults comprised 11.5% of adult patients with asthma. Being female poses a disadvantage in terms of both asthma prevalence and control in the older adult asthmatic population owing to the prevalence of comorbidities and socioeconomic sex-related distinguishing factors