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Do Hospital Workers Experience a Higher Risk of Respiratory Symptoms and Loss of Lung Function? Publisher Pubmed



Heibati B1, 2, 3 ; Jaakkola MS1, 2, 3 ; Lajunen TK1, 2, 3 ; Ducatman A4 ; Veysi R5 ; Karimi A6 ; Jaakkola JJK1, 2, 3, 7
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5B, P.O. Box 5000, Oulu, 90014, Finland
  2. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, Oulu, 90014, Finland
  3. 3. Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, Oulu, 90014, Finland
  4. 4. West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, United States
  5. 5. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, Helsinki, 00101, Finland

Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine Published:2022


Abstract

Background: Hospital work environment contains various biological and chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the staff. The objective of this study was to investigate potential effects of occupational exposures on the risk of respiratory symptoms and lung function in hospital work, and to evaluate potential interaction between smoking and occupational exposures. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 228 staff members in a hospital and 228 employees of an office building as the reference group in Shiraz, Iran. All subjects completed a standardized ATS respiratory questionnaire and performed a spirometry test. Results: In Poisson regression, the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) among the hospital staff were elevated for cough (aPR 1.90, 95% CI 1.15, 3.16), phlegm production (aPR 3.21, 95% CI 1.63, 6.32), productive cough (aPR 2.83, 95% CI 1.48, 5.43), wheezing (aPR 3.18, 95% CI 1.04, 9.66), shortness of breath (aPR 1.40, 95% CI 0.93, 2.12), and chest tightness (aPR 1.73, 95% CI 0.73, 4.12). Particularly laboratory personnel experienced increased risks of most symptoms. In linear regression adjusting for confounding, there were no significant differences in lung function between the hospital and office workers. There was an indication of synergism between hospital exposures and current smoking on FEV1/FVC% (interaction term β = − 5.37, 95% CI − 10.27, − 0.47). Conclusions: We present significant relations between hospital work, especially in laboratories, and increased risks of respiratory symptoms. Smoking appears to enhance these effects considerably. Our findings suggest that policymakers should implement evidence-based measures to prevent these occupational exposures. © 2022, The Author(s).
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