Chronic Respiratory Disease in Four Occupational Groups

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Abstract
In a prevalence survey of 1,072 western Ontario farmers, chemical workers, firemen, and physicians, chronic respiratory disease rates differed significantly. Farmers and chemical workers showed higher rates of chronic bronchitis and rhonchi heard on auscultation and lower forced expiratory volume rates (FEV1.0) than physicians and firemen. The asthma rates were high in all occupational groups, averaging 5.2%. Other information in a multiple regression analysis of all 1,072 indicated a definite effect of age (corrected for smoking) on chronic bronchitis and rhonchi. The finding of rhonchi was also strongly negatively correlated with ventilatory tests, and positively related to current cigarette smoking, and to a diagnosis of asthma or chronic bronchitis. Those who smoked pipes or cigars, or both, never having smoked cigarettes, did not show an increased prevalence of chronic bronchitis.