Relationship between health-related quality of life and respiratory health status among coal-based sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, India

Mousumi Biswas,Kaushik Chattopadhyay

doi:10.1007/s10389-017-0861-9

Abstract

BackgroundMany coal-based sponge iron plant workers have poor health-related quality of life in general, and specifically a poor respiratory health status. However, the relationship between their health-related quality of life and respiratory health status is unknown.AimThis study investigated the relationship between health-related quality of life, measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ5D), and respiratory health status, measured using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), among coal-based sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, India.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted among coal-based sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, and complete data were available on 252 participants. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were reported to show the strength of relationship between health-related quality of life and respiratory health status.Results and conclusionSignificant correlations were found between all EQ5D dimensions/visual analogue scale (VAS) and all SGRQ scores except between EQ5D-VAS and SGRQ-activity. A range of correlations was found. They were moderate between EQ5D-anxiety/depression and SGRQ-symptom, EQ5D-VAS and SGRQ-symptom, and EQ5D-anxiety/depression and SGRQ-total, but weak between all the other factors.

Highlights

Many coal-based sponge iron plant workers have poor health-related quality of life in general, and a poor respiratory health status
Significant correlations were found between all EQ5D dimensions/VAS and all St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores except between EQ5D-VAS and SGRQ-activity
Our study showed a weak correlation between EQ5DVAS and the SGRQ-total score (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient −0.236, p-value < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Many coal-based sponge iron plant workers have poor health-related quality of life in general, and a poor respiratory health status. The number of coal-based sponge iron plants has grown rapidly in the Barjora block of Bankura district, a deprived district in West Bengal, India [Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) 2011]. These factories are categorised as red industries (i.e. highly polluted industries) with the major pollutants including particulate matters and gaseous pollutants, the toxic effects of which are often rapid (Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) 2011; Cerana Foundation 2006; Chatterjee 2011; Patra et al 2012).

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Conclusion