Table 1 Risk of asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptoms and sensitization in farmers working with large animals: studies from 2000
From: Respiratory diseases and allergy in farmers working with livestock: a EAACI position paper
References/country | Study design | Subjects (n) | Participation rate (%) | Age (years) | Animal exposures | Methods for defining rhinitis | Methods for defining asthma | Atopy assessment | Risk factors | WR asthma/rhinitis/respiratory symptoms: OR in farmers exposed to large animals (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[8]/Denmark 2011 (SUS study) | Nested case–control study 4 years of FU | 107 cases 102 controls |  | 20¤ | Swine dairy and chickens | Not done | SUS algorithm | SPT | Swine Dairy | New-onset asthma Exposure during FU: swine 3.4 (1.6–7.0) Dairy 2.5 (1.1–5.3) Corrected for Childhood exposure |
[42]/Denmark 2018 (SUS study) | Follow up at age 35 for new onset sensiti-sation to common allergens; 15 years | 1113 (of 1166) | 50 | 20¤ | Swine dairy and chickens | Not done |  | SPT and IgE | Endotoxin and dust Animal exposure | Endotoxin exp in quartiles associated to SPT: less sensitisation to cat allergens OR 0.1 → 0.6 and a tendency to increased loss of sen. to grass OR 3 → 4.2 IgE: less sensitisation to common allergens OR 0.4 → 0.8 and a tendency to increased loss of sense. Corrected for childhood exposure |
[41]/Denmark 2018 (SUS study) | Follow up age 35 for new onset Lep D sensitisation 15 years FU | 1116 (of 1166) | 50 | 20¤ | Swine dairy and chickens | Not done |  | SPT and IgE | Endotoxin and dust Animal exposure | Endotoxin exp in quartiles associated to SPT: more sensitisation OR 1.9 → 2.3 and decreased loss of sensitisation OR 0.1 → 0.2 IgE: more sensitisation OR 5 → 7 and decreased loss of sensitisation OR 0.1 → 0.7 Corrected for childhood exp |
[56]/Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain 2001 | Cross-sectional | 6156 | 61–80 | 48 | Pig farmers | Q for nasal irritation | Q for wheezing | Not stated | Pig farmers only | Wheezing: pig farmers only 1.5 (1.2–2.0) Nasal irritation: pig farmers only 1.5 (1.2–1.9) |
[15]/Turkey 2002 | Cross-sectional | 125 | 62 | 37 | Grooms | Q | Q, | Not stated | Asthma: sensitization to horse hair Allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis: being in the grooms group | Asthma: sensitization to horse hair 4.5 (1.5–13.3) Allergic rhinitis: groom 1.8 (1.0–3.1) Allergic conjunctivitis: groom 3.9 (1.6–6.6) |
[141]/USA 2003 | Cross-sectional | 22,756 | 44 | 16–88 | Beef cattle Dairy cattle Pig | Not reported | Q | Q | Wheeze: n. of animals on the farm, frequency of veterinary procedures, age, atopy Asthma: atopy | Wheeze: beef cattle 1.1 (0.98–1.1) Dairy cattle 1.3 (1.1–1.5) pig 1.1 (1.03–1.2) Any animal 1.1 (1.04–1.2) |
[17]/Germany 2003 | Cross-sectional | 325 | 82 | 50 | Sheep and other animals 37% Sheep shearing 24% Sheep dip 27% Chemical footbaths 66% | Q | Q | Q | Asthma-related sx: full time farming | Nasal allergy: 3.2 (2.1–4.6) Asthma-related sx 2.3 (1.2–4.3) |
[16] USA 2009 | Cross-sectional | 82 72 | 80 34 | 41 38 | Horse barns | Not done | Not Stated |  | Equine barn exposure 0; 1–10 and > 10 h/week Respiratory sx and nasal irritation: family history of respiratory problems and history of allergies | Respiratory sx: 2.3 (0.6–9.8) and 8.9 (3.3–32.3) in low and high exp Nasal irritation: 0.4 (0.6–1.5) & 3.5 (1.1–10.6) in low and high exposure In both analyses, family history of respiratory problems and history of allergies showed a significant association to increased symptoms OR of 5.3 and 8 for respiratory problems and 2.7 and 3.6 for Nasal irritation |
[142]/USA 2017 | Cross-sectional | 11,210 | 71* | 59.8 | Crop 54% Livestock 46% | Not done | Rhinitis and Asthma D.D. | Not reported | Bale hay, Manure storage, grain, animals pesticides | Asthma and Rhinitis ass. to Pesticide spraying OR 1.9 (1.4–2.5) Rhinitis alone 1.3 (1.2–1.5) Ass to manure storage OR 0.71 (0.1–0.96) |