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Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)2009; 59(4); 220-225; doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqp003

Questionnaire assessment of airway disease symptoms in equine barn personnel.

Abstract: People working in cattle, swine and poultry barns have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. There is scant evidence regarding the respiratory health of humans working in horse barns, although it is well documented that stabled horses have a high prevalence of airway disease. Objective: To determine whether people spending time in horse barns have a higher prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms than non-exposed controls. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from May 2005 to January 2006 to investigate the prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in 82 barn-exposed subjects and 74 control subjects. Logistic regression and the chi-square test were used to analyse the data. Results: There was a significantly higher prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in the barn-exposed group (50%) versus the control group (15%). Exposure to horse barns, smoking and family history of asthma or allergies was independent risk factors for respiratory symptoms. High exposure to the horse barn yielded a higher odds ratio for self-reported respiratory symptoms (8.9). Conclusions: Exposure to the equine barn is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms. Investigation of organic dust exposures, lung function and horse dander allergies in the barn-exposed group will be necessary to determine how best to protect the health of this group.
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Publication Date: 2009-02-17 PubMed ID: 19223434PubMed Central: PMC2686741DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqp003Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study examined the respiratory health of people working in horse barns, finding a significantly higher rate of self-reported respiratory symptoms compared to subjects not exposed to barns.

Research Objective

The primary goal of the research was to ascertain whether individuals frequently spending time in horse barns report a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in comparison to non-exposed counterparts. This study was driven by the established knowledge that horses in stables often have high incidence rates of airway diseases, but corresponding data on the humans working within these environments is limited.

Study Methods

The study was set as a cross-sectional survey that ran from May 2005 to January 2006. It scrutinized the prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in two groups:

  • 82 barn-exposed subjects: these were individuals with exposure to horse stables.
  • 74 control subjects: these were people with no notable barn exposure.

The researchers applied logistic regression and chi-square tests to analyze their gathered data and identify patterns or significant findings.

Key Findings

The researchers observed a notably higher occurrence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in participants with regular exposure to horse barns (50%) compared to the non-exposed group (15%). In addition to this, exposure to horse barns, smoking, and a family history of asthma or allergies were all identified as independent risk factors contributing to respiratory symptoms. Particularly, higher exposure to horse barns presented a risk ratio of 8.9 for self-reported respiratory symptoms.

Study Conclusion

The results of this research highlight that exposure to horse barns is indeed associated with increased risk of respiratory symptoms. Further investigation is required to better understand the reasons behind this risk, such as examining organic dust exposures, lung function, and potential allergies to horse dander. This information could help devise effective strategies to protect the health of people working in horse barns.

Cite This Article

APA
Mazan MR, Svatek J, Maranda L, Christiani D, Ghio A, Nadeau J, Hoffman AM. (2009). Questionnaire assessment of airway disease symptoms in equine barn personnel. Occup Med (Lond), 59(4), 220-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqp003

Publication

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)
ISSN: 1471-8405
NlmUniqueID: 9205857
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 59
Issue: 4
Pages: 220-225

Researcher Affiliations

Mazan, Melissa R
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. melissa.mazan@tufts.edu
Svatek, Jessica
    Maranda, Louise
      Christiani, David
        Ghio, Andrew
          Nadeau, Jenifer
            Hoffman, Andrew M

              MeSH Terms

              • Adolescent
              • Adult
              • Aged
              • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology
              • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / physiopathology
              • Animals
              • Cattle
              • Chickens
              • Dust / analysis
              • Epidemiologic Methods
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases
              • Horses
              • Humans
              • Inhalation Exposure / adverse effects
              • Inhalation Exposure / statistics & numerical data
              • Male
              • Middle Aged
              • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
              • Respiratory Tract Diseases / physiopathology
              • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
              • Sus scrofa
              • United States / epidemiology
              • Young Adult

              Grant Funding

              • T35 DK07635 / NIDDK NIH HHS

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              Citations

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