Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational asthma is a common type of asthma caused by a specific agent in the workplace. The basic alteration of occupational asthma is airways inflammation. Although most patients with occupational asthma are mature adults, there...

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Main Authors: Hannhart Bernard, Michaely Jean-Pierre, Wild Pascal, Demange Valérie, Bohadana Abraham, Tossa Paul, Paris Christophe, Zmirou-Navier Denis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-04-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/113
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author Hannhart Bernard
Michaely Jean-Pierre
Wild Pascal
Demange Valérie
Bohadana Abraham
Tossa Paul
Paris Christophe
Zmirou-Navier Denis
author_facet Hannhart Bernard
Michaely Jean-Pierre
Wild Pascal
Demange Valérie
Bohadana Abraham
Tossa Paul
Paris Christophe
Zmirou-Navier Denis
author_sort Hannhart Bernard
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational asthma is a common type of asthma caused by a specific agent in the workplace. The basic alteration of occupational asthma is airways inflammation. Although most patients with occupational asthma are mature adults, there is evidence that airways inflammation starts soon after inception of exposure, including during apprenticeship. Airways hyper responsiveness to methacholine is a valid surrogate marker of airways inflammation, which has proved useful in occupational epidemiology. But it is time-consuming, requires active subject's cooperation and is not readily feasible. Other non-invasive and potentially more useful tests include the forced oscillation technique, measurement of fraction exhaled nitric oxide, and eosinophils count in nasal lavage fluid.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>This study aims to investigate early development of airways inflammation and asthma-like symptoms in apprentice bakers, pastry-makers and hairdressers, three populations at risk of occupational asthma whose work-related exposures involve agents of different nature. The objectives are to (i) examine the performance of the non-invasive tests cited above in detecting early airways inflammation that might eventually develop into occupational asthma; and (ii) evaluate whether, and how, constitutional (e.g. atopy) and behavioural (e.g. smoking) risk factors for occupational asthma modulate the effects of allergenic and/or irritative substances involved in these occupations. This paper presents the study rationale and detailed protocol.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Among 441 volunteers included at the first visit, 354 attended the fourth one. Drop outs were investigated and showed unrelated to the study outcome. Sample size and follow-up participation rates suggest that the data collected in this study will allow it to meet its objectives.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-6a86f5ab90f64aeeb6c8463f28ca0ca82022-12-21T21:04:32ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582009-04-019111310.1186/1471-2458-9-113Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprenticesHannhart BernardMichaely Jean-PierreWild PascalDemange ValérieBohadana AbrahamTossa PaulParis ChristopheZmirou-Navier Denis<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational asthma is a common type of asthma caused by a specific agent in the workplace. The basic alteration of occupational asthma is airways inflammation. Although most patients with occupational asthma are mature adults, there is evidence that airways inflammation starts soon after inception of exposure, including during apprenticeship. Airways hyper responsiveness to methacholine is a valid surrogate marker of airways inflammation, which has proved useful in occupational epidemiology. But it is time-consuming, requires active subject's cooperation and is not readily feasible. Other non-invasive and potentially more useful tests include the forced oscillation technique, measurement of fraction exhaled nitric oxide, and eosinophils count in nasal lavage fluid.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>This study aims to investigate early development of airways inflammation and asthma-like symptoms in apprentice bakers, pastry-makers and hairdressers, three populations at risk of occupational asthma whose work-related exposures involve agents of different nature. The objectives are to (i) examine the performance of the non-invasive tests cited above in detecting early airways inflammation that might eventually develop into occupational asthma; and (ii) evaluate whether, and how, constitutional (e.g. atopy) and behavioural (e.g. smoking) risk factors for occupational asthma modulate the effects of allergenic and/or irritative substances involved in these occupations. This paper presents the study rationale and detailed protocol.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Among 441 volunteers included at the first visit, 354 attended the fourth one. Drop outs were investigated and showed unrelated to the study outcome. Sample size and follow-up participation rates suggest that the data collected in this study will allow it to meet its objectives.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/113
spellingShingle Hannhart Bernard
Michaely Jean-Pierre
Wild Pascal
Demange Valérie
Bohadana Abraham
Tossa Paul
Paris Christophe
Zmirou-Navier Denis
Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
BMC Public Health
title Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
title_full Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
title_fullStr Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
title_full_unstemmed Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
title_short Early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma: Rationale, study design and follow-up rates among bakery, pastry and hairdressing apprentices
title_sort early markers of airways inflammation and occupational asthma rationale study design and follow up rates among bakery pastry and hairdressing apprentices
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/113
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