TY - JOUR T1 - Respiratory symptoms, lung function tests and airway responsiveness among automobile spray painters JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P1111 AU - Saso Stoleski AU - Jordan Minov AU - Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska AU - Dragan Mijakoski Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1111.abstract N2 - Objective: To evaluate the frequency of respiratory symptoms, lung function test abnormalities and non specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) among automobile spray painters. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed including 40 males (mean age= 39.6±9.2) employed as automobile spray painters (duration of exposure 14.8±6.4) and 40 male office workers as a control group (mean age=40.2±8.6) matched for age, smoking habits and socioeconomic status. Evaluation of examined subjects included completion of a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months (cough, phlegm, dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, and nasal symptoms), spirometry and histamine challenge (PC20£8 mg/mL). Results: Automobile spray painters had a significantly higher prevalence of cough (32.1%), phlegm (17.3%), wheezing (12.5%), and nasal symptoms (9.7%) than the control group (p<0.05). All spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, MEF75, MEF50, and MEF25) were lower in automobile spray painters compared with the controls, but statistical significance was found only for MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 (p=0.04, p=0.02, and p=0.004; respectively). The prevalence of non specific BHR, defined by histamine PC20 less than 8 mg/mL, was higher in automobile spray painters but statistical significance was yet not reached (23.4% vs. 13.8%).Conclusion: Our obtained results from the study suggest that occupational exposure among automobile spray painters is associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory and nasal symptoms, lung function impairment and higher prevalence of non specific airway responsiveness. ER -