Abstract
To assess the changes in respiratory health from winter to summer seasons in a rural population. A longitudinal design was used in the study. A population-based study was conducted as part of the Environmental Pesticide Exposure and Human Health component of the Prairie Ecosystem Study (PECOS) in southwestern Saskatchewan. In the winter season, 358 patients participated in the study. Of these patients, 234 returned for the second assessment during the summer season. After excluding 34 children aged 17 years and under, 200 adult patients were available for analysis. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on demographic factors, smoking habits, occupational and environmental exposures, and respiratory conditions. Pulmonary function measurements were obtained using a volume displacement spirometer. Mean ages (+/- SD) of the 106 men and 94 women participating in the study were 50.1+/-13.3 and 49.0+/-13.1 years, respectively. Mean percentage changes in maximal midexpiratory flow rate from winter to summer assessments indicated an improvement for town residents and a decline for farm residents. Mean percentage changes in the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity indicated an improvement for town residents who were not engaged in farming, and increasing declines for town residents engaged in farming, farm residents not engaged in farming and farm residents engaged in farming. Seasonal changes occurred in measurements of pulmonary function between winter and summer seasons; these changes may be related to the environmental or occupational exposures experienced by the participants during the study.
Highlights
Farm residents were significantly younger than the town residents
Mean percentage changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1):forced vital capacity (FVC) from winter to summer assessments indicated an improvement for town residents who were not engaged in farming, and increasing declines for town residents engaged in farming, farm residents not engaged in farming and farm residents engaged in farming
In the present study, subjects who lived on a farm and engaged in farming had the highest mean declines in maximal midexpiratory flow rate (MMFR) and FEV1:FVC from winter to summer seasons, whereas subjects who lived in town and were not engaged in farming had improvements in MMFR and FEV1:FVC
Summary
To assess the changes in respiratory health from winter to summer seasons in a rural population. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal changes occurred in measurements of pulmonary function between winter and summer seasons; these changes may be related to the environmental or occupational exposures experienced by the participants during the study. The determinants of changes in pulmonary function from winter (February and March 1996) to summer (June and July 1996) seasons in a rural population in southwestern Saskatchewan were examined. 358 patients (306 adults and 52 children aged 17 years and under) had pulmonary function tests and completed a brief respiratory symptom questionnaire. Analysis of covariance was used to test differences in the percentage change in pulmonary function from winter to summer seasons after adjusting for age, height and sex. Multivariate regression analysis was used to test the difference in the changes in lung function among the four study groups after controlling for potential confounding variables such as age, sex, height and smoking
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
