[AIRBAg study: preliminary results after one year of screening for COPD in dairy farmers]

Abstract

Introduction: The AIRBAg study screens for bronchial obstruction in dairy farmers. We present the preliminary results after one year.

Methods: A prospective screening study based on questionnaires and electronic mini-spirometry (Néo-6(®)) that includes a representative sample of dairy farmers from the departments of Morbihan and Île-et-Vilaine in Brittany. The dairy farmers had an occupational medicine appointment and, if they demonstrated at least one marker of possible bronchial obstruction (chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, dyspnoea, wheezing, FEV1/FEV6<0.8), they were referred to a pulmonologist. The data we present here were extracted from the occupational medicine appointments because the pulmonologists' appointments are still running.

Results: Among the 277 dairy farmers included, 125 (45%) demonstrated "possible bronchial obstruction". The total score of the CAT questionnaire was higher in these farmers (9.1±6.2 versus 5.8±4.0; P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis markers of "possible bronchial obstruction" were eczema, manual foddering and duration of mechanical straw litter spreading.

Conclusion: Occupational medicine appointments identified markers of "possible bronchial obstruction". We will have the complete results from AIRBAg study in 2015.

Keywords: Agriculteur; Bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Dépistage; Electronic mini-spirometer; Farmer; Mini-spiromètre électronique; Obstruction bronchique; Obstructive lung disease; Screening.