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American journal of industrial medicine1999; 35(1); 51-57; doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199901)35:1<51::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-f

Asthma and allergy in New Zealand farmers.

Abstract: To examine the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and allergy in different farming groups in New Zealand. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 2,500 farmers throughout New Zealand. Results: The response rate was 77% (1,706 of 2,203 eligibles). The 12-month period prevalence of current asthma was 11.8% overall, compared with 15% in the general population. Asthma prevalence was higher for horse breeders/groomers (16.5%), pig farmers (18.2%), poultry farmers (17.4%), and those working with oats (17.4%). Asthma was also significantly elevated among those working with cleaning powders (14.7%). Women were more likely to report current asthma than were men (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5). Hay fever was significantly higher in deer and crop farmers, and farmers working with horses and goats; eczema was higher for goat and deer farmers. Conclusions: The lower overall prevalence of asthma in farmers may be due to the healthy worker effect. Among farmers, the types of farming associated with an elevated prevalence of asthma and allergy in New Zealand are deer and goat farming, working with horses, poultry, pigs, and crop farming. Females reported more current asthma than males.
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Publication Date: 1999-01-13 PubMed ID: 9884745DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199901)35:1<51::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-fGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper investigates the rates of asthma and allergies among different farmer groups in New Zealand. It found that horse breeders, pig farmers, poultry farmers, oat workers, and those working with cleaning powders have a higher prevalence of asthma, with women reported to have more current asthma than men. The paper also suggests that the healthy worker effect might be the reason for the lower overall prevalence of asthma in farmers.

Research Methods

  • The researchers developed a postal questionnaire which was sent to a random sample of 2,500 farmers scattered throughout New Zealand.
  • They received a 77% response rate from the recipients which means a collective response from 1,706 eligible farmers participated in providing data for the research.

Results

  • The research revealed that the 12-month period prevalence of current asthma was at 11.8% amongst farmers as compared to the 15% in the general population.
  • It further noticed that the prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in specific farming practices such as horse breeding/grooming (16.5%), pig farming (18.2%), poultry farming (17.4%), and those working with oats (17.4%).
  • The prevalence of asthma was also elevated amongst users of cleaning powders (14.7%).
  • The study discovered that females (with odds ratio of 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5) were more likely to report current asthma than their male counterparts.
  • Farmers who handle deer and crops, and those who work with horses and goats, reported significantly higher rates of hay fever. Goat and deer farmers also recorded higher instances of eczema.

Conclusions

  • The researchers proposed that the lower overall prevalence of asthma amongst farmers could be a result of the healthy worker effect.
  • From the study, it was ascertained that particular farming practices were associated with elevated prevalence of asthma and allergies in New Zealand. These include deer and goat farming, working with horses, poultry, pigs, and crop farming.
  • The research also underscores that females reported a higher prevalence of current asthma as compared to males.

Cite This Article

APA
Kimbell-Dunn M, Bradshaw L, Slater T, Erkinjuntti-Pekkanen R, Fishwick D, Pearce N. (1999). Asthma and allergy in New Zealand farmers. Am J Ind Med, 35(1), 51-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199901)35:1<51::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-f

Publication

American journal of industrial medicine
ISSN: 0271-3586
NlmUniqueID: 8101110
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 1
Pages: 51-57

Researcher Affiliations

Kimbell-Dunn, M
  • Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Bradshaw, L
    Slater, T
      Erkinjuntti-Pekkanen, R
        Fishwick, D
          Pearce, N

            MeSH Terms

            • Adolescent
            • Adult
            • Aged
            • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology
            • Asthma / epidemiology
            • Female
            • Humans
            • Male
            • Middle Aged
            • New Zealand / epidemiology
            • Prevalence

            Citations

            This article has been cited 10 times.
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              doi: 10.1002/ajim.23236pubmed: 33616247google scholar: lookup
            2. Baran Ketencioğlu B, Yilmaz I, Tutar N, Gülmez I, Oymak FS. Horse allergen sensitivity and respiratory symptoms among horse farm workers. Turk J Med Sci 2020 Jun 23;50(4):910-916.
              doi: 10.3906/sag-1912-39pubmed: 32394685google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1177/0300060519852253pubmed: 31179805google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1289/ehp.8835pubmed: 17384782google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1007/s00420-006-0141-4pubmed: 17021845google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.3121/cmr.2.1.5pubmed: 15931330google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1136/oem.60.10.770pubmed: 14504366google scholar: lookup
            8. Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ, Alavanja MC, Sandler DP. Animal production and wheeze in the Agricultural Health Study: interactions with atopy, asthma, and smoking. Occup Environ Med 2003 Aug;60(8):e3.
              doi: 10.1136/oem.60.8.e3pubmed: 12883030google scholar: lookup
            9. Douwes J, Pearce N, Heederik D. Does environmental endotoxin exposure prevent asthma?. Thorax 2002 Jan;57(1):86-90.
              doi: 10.1136/thorax.57.1.86pubmed: 11809997google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1289/ehp.00108s4705pubmed: 10931789google scholar: lookup
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