TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in male workers exposed to dust, gas and fume JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p4176 AU - Byung-Soon Choi AU - Joung Oh Lee AU - Youlim Lee Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4176.abstract N2 - Purpose: It is known that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be developed after exposure to many kinds of dust, gas and fume. But the prevalence of COPD was not investigated extensively, especially after bronchodilator inhalation.Method: Chest X-ray images were taken in 1,298 male workers exposed to many kinds of dust, gas and fume. Pulmonary function tests were done with short-acting bronchodilator during the periodic health examination from 2008 to 2010. Excluding the workers with the abnormal radiological findings that could affect lung function, the data of a total of 838 workers were analyzed.Result: The prevalence of COPD increased with age: under age 45, 0.0%; 45 to 64, 31.6%; 65 to 74, 51.8%; 75 and over, 62.2% (p=0.000). COPD was also prevalent in those with high relative exposure index, sum of multiplication of exposure level and exposure duration: under 60, 35.5%; 60 to 99, 37.2%, 100 and over, 47.2% (p=0.009). About half of pneumoconiosis patients had COPD: 43.5% in profusion category 1; 49.6% in 2; 62.5% in 3, but the prevalence in profusion category 0/0 and 0/1 was also high, 30.1% and 30.8%, respectively. The prevalence of COPD in smokers was higher than non-smokers (31.8%), but there was no difference between ex- (41.7%) and current-smokers (41.5%). In ex- and current-smokers, it was 30.0% under 15 pack-years, 42.4% in 15 to 29, and 54.1% in 30 and over.Conclusion: The prevalence of COPD was very high in workers exposed to many kinds of dust, gas, and fume occupationally. Also, it showed the increasing trend with exposure intensity. ER -