Abstract
Objective: This study investigated whether Danish construction workers had an increased prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or affected lung function and if the prevalence differed between types of jobs within construction. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 899 Danish male workers: demolition workers, insulators, carpenters and a control group of hospital porters aged 35-60 years answered a questionnaire and performed spirometry. Results were tested statistically for differences between occupational groups, and all analyses were adjusted for smoking status, age and body mass index. Results: COPD (Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease 2-4) was found in 2.4% of carpenters, 4.7% of insulators, 7.8% of demolition workers and 6.1% of hospital porters (P = 0.055). Compared to hospital porters, demolition workers had significantly increased odds of coughing more than average [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.8] and carpenters had significantly lower odds of forced expiratory volume in one second below the lower limit of normal (i.e. FEV 1 < LLN) (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9). The OR of FEV1 < LLN for demolition workers compared to carpenters was 2.7 (95% CI 1.3-5.5) and for insulators compared to carpenters was 1.8 (95% CI 0.8-3.9). Demolition workers had significantly lower odds compared to all other groups for forced vital capacity < LLN.
Highlights
Worldwide, 80 million people suffer from moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, according to the World Health Organization, COPD is expected to become the third leading cause of death by 2030 [1]
In a cohort of 317,629 Swedish male construction workers followed in the period 1971-2011, increased mortality from COPD was found among those exposed to inorganic dust, especially among those who never smoked [7]
The analyses showed no effect of age or smoking status, but an increased prevalence of forced vital capacity (FVC) < lower limit of normal (LLN) for workers with higher compared to lower body mass index (BMI)
Summary
80 million people suffer from moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, according to the World Health Organization, COPD is expected to become the third leading cause of death by 2030 [1]. Apart from smoking, risk factors for COPD include occupational dust and chemicals including vapours, irritants and fumes [2,3,4,5]. One of the larger trades in which workers historically have been subjected to considerable dust exposure is construction, which employs about 6% of the workforce in Denmark. The number of occupational lung diseases reported to the National Board of Industrial Injuries in Denmark has remained constant at around 660 each year. In 2013, 127 of these cases (19%) were reported in construction workers as related to dust, fibres, smoke and exhaust fumes [6] but few of these were compensated as work-related. In a cohort of 317,629 Swedish male construction workers followed in the period 1971-2011, increased mortality from COPD was found among those exposed to inorganic dust, especially among those who never smoked [7]
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