215773 Farm-related factors associated with asthma in U.S. farm operators: Results from the 2006 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey

Monday, November 8, 2010

Patricia Schleiff, MS , Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Surveillance Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV
Jacek M. Mazurek, MD, MS, PhD , Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Surveillance Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV
Girija Syamlal, MBBS, MPH , Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Surveillance Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV
To develop national prevalence estimates for farm-related factors and explore their associations with current asthma, work-related asthma (WRA), and farm work-related asthma attacks in U.S. primary farm operators. In 2006, the National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted a regionally stratified telephone survey of 25,000 farm operations to address the health and safety concerns of primary farm operators. Self-reported data on 12,278 active farm operators were analyzed. National prevalences and adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs) were estimated using survey procedures in SAS. Of the estimated 2.1 million U.S. farms, approximately 51% were livestock and 46% were crop operations. The median age of operators was 57 years; 88% were males. Approximately 5% operators reported current asthma. Among these, 25% reported WRA and 28% reported work-related asthma attacks. Operators with current asthma were more likely to report exposure to moldy dust (POR=1.3) than those without asthma. Those with WRA were more likely to report exposures to diesel tractors (POR=3.1) and welding (POR=3.0). Among operators with current asthma, work-related asthma attacks were significantly associated with exposure to storage bags (POR=3.0), equine (POR=2.3), and moldy dust (POR=2.2); among livestock operators with current asthma, reporting exposure to equine (POR=3.4) and moldy dust (POR=3.0) were significant factors for work-related asthma attacks. These findings contribute to the limited information about associations between farm-related factors and asthma among primary farm operators, and can assist in establishing priorities for asthma prevention programs or targeting asthma intervention strategies on farms.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Describe the distribution of reported farm-related factors among farm operators. Identify farm-related factors that are associated with current asthma, work-related asthma, and farm work-related asthma attacks among farm operators. Discuss how the study�s findings can assist in setting up programs or strategies for asthma prevention or intervention for farm operators.

Keywords: Asthma, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I developed the abstract's research objectives and analyzed the survey data on U.S. farm operators.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.