Chronic respiratory conditions in a cohort of metropolitan fire-fighters: associations with occupational exposure and quality of life

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dc.contributor.authorSchermer, T.
dc.contributor.authorMalbon, W.
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, M.
dc.contributor.authorSmith, M.
dc.contributor.authorCrockett, A.
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractObjectives To assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions in metropolitan fire-fighters and to study associations between occupational exposure, use of respiratory protection and health-related quality of life(HRQoL) in fire-fighters with and without chronic respiratory conditions. Methods Cross-sectional cohort analysis: Respiratory symptoms, medical conditions, occupational tasks and exposures and consistency of using respiratory protection were inquired by questionnaire. The SF12 V2 Health Survey was used to measure physical (PCS-12) and mental(MCS-12) HRQoL. Fire-fighters were categorised in sub- groups: asthma; COPD/emphysema/chronic bronchitis; no chronic respiratory conditions; and as being ‘not involved’ or ‘involved’ in fire-fighting tasks, the latter further categorised as ‘consistent’ or ‘inconsistent’ use of respiratory protection. PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were compared between subgroups and categories using linear regression. Results Five hundred and seventy fire-fighters were analysed, 24 (4 %) fulfilled the criteria for asthma, 39 (7 %)for COPD/emphysema/chronic bronchitis. Fire-fighters with asthma were older than those in the other two sub-groups and had been employed in the fire service longer. Respiratory subgroups did not differ in their involvement in fire-fighting tasks. Ninety-one percent of fire-fighters reported relevant occupational exposure in the past year. Mean PCS-12 scores for fire-fighters with no chronic respiratory conditions, asthma and COPD/emphysema/ bronchitis were 52.0 (SD 6.9), 47.0 (8.5) and 48.1 (9.4). For PCS-12 (but not for MCS-12), interaction between having a chronic respiratory condition and inconsistent use of respiratory protection during fire knockdown was observed (p\0.001). Conclusions Ten percent of metropolitan fire-fighters reported underlying chronic respiratory conditions. Presence of such a condition in combination with suboptimal protection from inhaled exposures may lead to poorer physical HRQoL.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityTjard R. Schermer, Winifred Malbon, Michael Morgan, Michael Smith, Alan J. Crockett
dc.identifier.citationInternational Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014; 87(8):919-928
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s00420-014-0935-8
dc.identifier.issn0340-0131
dc.identifier.issn1432-1246
dc.identifier.orcidSchermer, T. [0000-0002-1391-2995]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/95107
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-014-0935-8
dc.subjectChronic respiratory conditions; occupational health; respiratory exposure; protective equipment; health status
dc.titleChronic respiratory conditions in a cohort of metropolitan fire-fighters: associations with occupational exposure and quality of life
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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