Evaluation of Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function Disorders of Farmers and Non-farmers in Yazd Province

Introduction: Respiratory disorders, as common problems in farmers, have a high mortality rate in Yazd City. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the respiratory parameters as well as the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in three age groups in farmers and non-farmers. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 300 farmers and 300 nonfarmers in Yazd. The administered questionnaires included cognitive knowledge and symptoms of respiratory diseases. All participants completed the questionnaires and took the lung function tests. Data were analyzed using independent T-t test, Chi square test, or Fisher's exact test by SPSS 24. Results: Spirometry results showed a significant reduction in the respiratory capacity of the farmer group compared to non-farmer. In all three age groups, the prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms in farmers were higher than nonfarmer groups and the prevalence of symptoms increased by increase of age. In the age group of "over 55 years", the risk of cough, phlegm, dyspnea, and wheezing were 17,10.78, 3.58, and 6.61 times more than the non-farmers, respectively. Among the respiratory symptoms, cough had the highest prevalence, while shortness of breath had the lowest prevalence. Discussion and conclusion: In order to prevent high prevalence of respiratory disorders in farmers, the mechanization of agricultural practices, promotion of farmers' health awareness by health professionals, appropriate implementation of training programs by the health department, and assistance of Jihad-e- Agriculture are necessary