PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Cushen, Breda AU - Donoghue, Noreen AU - Langan, Donna AU - Cahill, Tara AU - Nic Donnacha, Eimear AU - Healy, Olivia AU - Keegan, Fiona AU - Browne, Mark AU - Sulaiman, Imran AU - O'Regan, Anthony TI - Irish farmers lung health study- A study of the respiratory health of the Irish farming population AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA344 DP - 2015 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA344 VI - 46 IP - suppl 59 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA344.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA344.full SO - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46 AB - Introduction: International studies have shown a high prevalence of respiratory complaints amongst agricultural workers however there is little data regarding the prevalence of respiratory disease in the Irish farming population. A recent study has shown that Irish farmer's general health has lagged behind other professions for unclear reasons.Aim: We undertook a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and airways disease amongst Irish farmers.Methods: A key component was respiratory scientist measured spirometry. Investigator-delivered questionnaires collected baseline demographics, symptom data and possible exposures.All study participants were farming volunteers. Spirometry results were correlated with variables related to respiratory disease.Results: Data on 372 farming volunteers was included for analysis. Majority were male (76%) with median age 55 years. 61% were never smokers.44(12%) had obstructive spirometry(Fixed FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70). Of those, two-thirds were never smokers. The presence of obstruction in never smokers was significantly associated with prior diagnosis of airways disease and self-reported hayfever/allergy, p<0.01.Almost two-thirds reported one or more respiratory symptom. There was no significant correlation between the presence of airflow obstruction and home/occupational exposures.Conclusion: This large comprehensive assessment of lung disease in Irish farmers demonstrates a remarkably high prevalence of obstructive lung disease in non-smoking subjects compared with international levels. More detailed studies are needed to identify the workplace factors accounting for these findings.