Respiratory problems among diabetic cotton textile workers

ABSTRACT

This cross sectinol study involved 400 male workers selected from one of the cotton textile factories in Alexandria in a trial to study the effects of exposure to cotton dust on the respiratory system of exposed diabetic workers. All the participants were subjected to a special questionnaire and comprehensive clinical examination with special emphasis on respiratory system. Laboratory investigations included fasting blood sugar and pulmonary function measurements for all subjects. The selected pulmonary function indices were forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV[1.0]] maximum mid expiratiory flow rate [MMFR[25-75]] and maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV]. Results denoted that diabetic workers showed significantly higher prevalence of some respiratory diseases e.g. byssinosis, chest infection, chronic bronchitis and TB than non diabetics. Moreover, diabetic workers showed lower values of the measured pulmonary function indices than non diabetics