Abstract
Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are among global leading causes of mortality. Insulators are at risk of these illnesses because of chronic exposure to asbestos and silica. Many insulators are habitual smokers, which confounds etiological diagnosis of disease. In this study, a retrospective analysis of non-smoking insulators examined the direct effects of occupational exposure.
Unionized non-smoking insulators (n = 301) were recruited through a longitudinal surveillance program in Alberta (41 ± 14 years, 29 ± 5 kg/m2 BMI). Family, health, and work history, using validated questionnaires, and full physical assessments were collected. Insulators were assessed by pulmonary function tests (PFTs), chest X-rays, Framingham cardiac risk scores, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) scores. For controls, a cohort of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers was assessed (37 ± 9 years, 29 ± 6 kg/m2 BMI).
Over half the insulators (54%) were exposed to asbestos in their working environment. No differences were found in PFT values from insulators and RCMP officers. While the CAT score for insulators (mean, 4 ± 4) was lower than that of RCMP (6 ± 5, p < 0.0001), more insulators exhibited lung abnormalities in chest X-rays than in RCMP (10% vs. 3%, p < 0.01). The Framingham risk score for non-smoking insulators averaged 10 ± 8% (normal range, 0-10%), with as many as 25% insulators showing values of >13%. COPD and asbestos-related lung diseases (ARLD) were found in 18% of insulators.
Our findings suggest an emerging public health crisis in the health of insulators independent of smoking habits. More needs to be done to protect the health of workers and prevent the onset of lung diseases.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, OA1947.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2018