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Analysis of the Occupational Health and Wellness of Alberta’s Unionized Insulators: A Cohort Study
Description
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A1909 - Analysis of the Occupational Health and Wellness of Alberta’s Unionized Insulators: A Cohort Study
Author Block: S. Kamravaei1, K. Idrissi Machichi2, M. Naseem3, F. Khadour3, J. Spring4, L. Henderson4, M. Dueck2, L. Pei2, B. Quemerais2, P. Lacy2, L. Melenka3; 1Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Synergy Respiratory Care, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 4Synergy Respiratory Care, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada.
Introduction
Chronic lower respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and others) is one of the leading causes of mortality in Canada and the USA, and is ranked as the 4th leading cause of mortality in Canada. A substantial proportion (15%) of occupational asthma and COPD is associated with workplace exposure. In particular, insulators are exposed to several chemicals and particulate hazards such as asbestos, fiberglass, and carbon nanofibers, which have been shown to cause pulmonary and cardiovascular disease during chronic exposure. In this study, we carried out a longitudinal analysis of insulators and their health to determine if early detection and treatment of occupational exposure-related diseases were possible.
Methods
The Wellness of Workers program (WoW) has been established as a longitudinal surveillance program for Alberta’s unionized insulators. Family lifestyle, health history (e.g. smoking habits, illnesses, etc.), and work history (specifically, insulation exposure) of insulators were identified using validated questionnaires. Validated tools were also used to calculate the Framingham cardiac risk score and COPD assessment test (CAT) score. Insulators underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), X-ray screening, and CT scans, if necessary.
Results
Since the beginning of the study in 2011, 857 insulators joined the WoW surveillance program, with an average trade experience of 16 ± 14 years. More than half of the cohort (64%) was exposed to asbestos through different applications, and 68% of the cohort had a history of smoking (i.e., current smoker, ex-smoker, vaping, drug use, etc.). The average CAT score was 6.4 ± 5.5 (normal range of 0-5), and 18% of the X-rays performed showed lung abnormalities. The Framingham risk average score was 13.5% ± 4.0% (normal range of 0-10%), showing an intermediate risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.
Conclusions
Our findings show potentially serious health effects occurring in insulators who are chronically exposed to airborne particulate hazards while installing insulation in homes and businesses. Specifically, the current data demonstrates a lower level of lung health in insulators than the Canadian average. Our study is still in progress to increase the sample size and complete the longitudinal analysis (up to June 2017) to allow us to determine if early detection and treatment of insulators may be possible.
Author Block: S. Kamravaei1, K. Idrissi Machichi2, M. Naseem3, F. Khadour3, J. Spring4, L. Henderson4, M. Dueck2, L. Pei2, B. Quemerais2, P. Lacy2, L. Melenka3; 1Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Synergy Respiratory Care, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 4Synergy Respiratory Care, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada.
Introduction
Chronic lower respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and others) is one of the leading causes of mortality in Canada and the USA, and is ranked as the 4th leading cause of mortality in Canada. A substantial proportion (15%) of occupational asthma and COPD is associated with workplace exposure. In particular, insulators are exposed to several chemicals and particulate hazards such as asbestos, fiberglass, and carbon nanofibers, which have been shown to cause pulmonary and cardiovascular disease during chronic exposure. In this study, we carried out a longitudinal analysis of insulators and their health to determine if early detection and treatment of occupational exposure-related diseases were possible.
Methods
The Wellness of Workers program (WoW) has been established as a longitudinal surveillance program for Alberta’s unionized insulators. Family lifestyle, health history (e.g. smoking habits, illnesses, etc.), and work history (specifically, insulation exposure) of insulators were identified using validated questionnaires. Validated tools were also used to calculate the Framingham cardiac risk score and COPD assessment test (CAT) score. Insulators underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), X-ray screening, and CT scans, if necessary.
Results
Since the beginning of the study in 2011, 857 insulators joined the WoW surveillance program, with an average trade experience of 16 ± 14 years. More than half of the cohort (64%) was exposed to asbestos through different applications, and 68% of the cohort had a history of smoking (i.e., current smoker, ex-smoker, vaping, drug use, etc.). The average CAT score was 6.4 ± 5.5 (normal range of 0-5), and 18% of the X-rays performed showed lung abnormalities. The Framingham risk average score was 13.5% ± 4.0% (normal range of 0-10%), showing an intermediate risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.
Conclusions
Our findings show potentially serious health effects occurring in insulators who are chronically exposed to airborne particulate hazards while installing insulation in homes and businesses. Specifically, the current data demonstrates a lower level of lung health in insulators than the Canadian average. Our study is still in progress to increase the sample size and complete the longitudinal analysis (up to June 2017) to allow us to determine if early detection and treatment of insulators may be possible.
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