Prevalence of ventilatory disorders in rural workers exposed to chemical defensives in north Parana

Abstract

This study has assessed health conditions of rural workers exposed to chemical defensives, with a view to determining the prevalence of ventilatory obstructive disorders (VOD). The sample was formed by 200 viticulturists from the north of Paraná, of both sexes, aged between 20 and 60 years old. Data were collected by means of: structured questionnaire (open and closed questions); general and pneumologic
physical evaluation; and spirometric evaluation. The analysis shows that
34% of the subjects presented standard spirometric condition; 15% showed signs of beginning VOD; and 51% some kind of ventilatory disorder; of these, VODs were found in 42%, restrictive ventilatory disorder in 4,5%, and mixed ventilatory disorder in 4,5%. The high prevalence of ventilatory disorders found, in addition to other data, may be due to non-observance of recommendations for use of individual protection equipment, as well as to the low quality of life of the studied subjects. In view of this, physical therapists have a key role to prevent, to rehabilitate and to improve this population's quality of life.