A STUDY OF PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN TRAFFIC POLICEMEN IN KOTTAYAM DISTRICT AND NORMAL HEALTHY ADULTS

Journal Title: Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 8

Abstract

BACKGROUND Environmental pollution and human efforts for the betterments of living standards are the two sides of the same coin. In the wake of industrialisation and ever increasing population, the basic amenities of life, that is air, water and land are being polluted continuously. Independent investigations have suggested a possible relationship between chronic exposure to pollutants and poor pulmonary function. This study will contribute to our understanding of effects of air pollution on pulmonary function in traffic policemen and the need for regular medical check-ups and adopting preventive measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case-control study was done by conducting three medical camps at AR Camp, Kottayam. All subjects under study were divided into three categories and a medical checkup was conducted to rule out medical illness and to collect anthropometric details. The pulmonary function tests carried out in this study using a portable spirometer are FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, FEF25-75% and PEFR. Data analysis was done using independence sample t-test and chi-square test in SPSS of windows version 10. RESULTS Higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in traffic policemen compared to other groups. All three groups had normal pulmonary function status. Lower values of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR and FEF25-75% were obtained in traffic and non-traffic policemen compared to healthy adults. PFT values were lower in traffic police exposed for longer periods. There is lesser amount of air pollution in Kottayam compared to other cities. CONCLUSION There is no significant decline in lung function in the exposed group of traffic police. Lower values in PFT in non-traffic police was due to indirect exposure to pollutants as they were inmates of AR camp, which is located at the centre of Kottayam town. The normal controls were mainly labourers and agriculturists of rural area.

Authors and Affiliations

Saritha Jayachandran Shenoy, Sumadevi Vengasseril Sarasamma

Keywords

Related Articles

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF NEOPLASTIC LESIONS OF FEMALE GENITAL TRACT IN KOLHAN, JHARKHAND

BACKGROUND Gynaecological specimens form the major proportion of tissue biopsies in most pathology departments. Sexually active women are more prone to cervical disease. The aim of this study is to find out the frequency...

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LABETALOL VERSUS METHYLDOPA IN THE TREATMENT OF PREECLAMPSIA

BACKGROUND To compare the efficacy and safety of labetalol versus Methyldopa in the management of preeclampsia. METHODOLOGY 100 pregnant women with preeclampsia were randomly assigned, 50 were treated with labetalol (Gro...

PROGNOSTICATION OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS

BACKGROUND Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) account for less than 1% of all malignant tumours but present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge since there are more than 50 histological subtypes.1 The clinical cou...

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE & PRACTICES OF MEDICAL ABORTION IN WOMEN- A LONGITUDINAL STUDY FROM PATNA, BIHAR

BACKGROUND Abortion can be defined as the termination of pregnancy by any means before the foetus is sufficiently developed to survive. Out of 210 million pregnancies occurring every year throughout the world, about one...

EARLY PRESENTATION OF LESS COMMON ASSOCIATION- SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS WITH APLA

PRESENTATION OF CASE A 25-year-old female presented to outpatient department with complaints of pain in small joints of hand and on exposure to cold water since 2 months. Patient was nonsmoker and nonalcoholic. Patient w...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP213579
  • DOI 10.18410/jebmh/2017/78
  • Views 112
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Saritha Jayachandran Shenoy, Sumadevi Vengasseril Sarasamma (2017). A STUDY OF PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN TRAFFIC POLICEMEN IN KOTTAYAM DISTRICT AND NORMAL HEALTHY ADULTS. Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 4(8), 405-409. https://www.europub.co.uk/articles/-A-213579