Asthma Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Farmers in the Midwestern United States: Analysis of Regional Surveillance Data [preprint]

Details

• Journal Article:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Orji, Ikenna ; Du, Yi ; Beseler, Cheryl L. ; Haynatzki, Gleb ; Rautiainen, Risto H.
• Description:
  Objectives: This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for asthma among farm and ranch operators in seven Midwestern States, using surveillance data from 2018, 2020, and 2023. Methods: Regression models were developed to identify predictors of asthma, including demographic factors, agricultural exposures, and physical activity. Results: The overall prevalence of asthma was 4.7%. Asthma was significantly associated with respiratory exposures to grain, feed, or hay dust [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.14, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.74-2.63] and animal confinement dust [AOR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.35-2.21] after adjusting for demographics and worktime on farm/ranch. Conclusion: The identified occupational risk factors highlight the importance of surveillance and targeted prevention among agricultural populations to further reduce the long-term respiratory exposures, particularly in animal confinement operations.
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Asthma Exercise Farmers Occupational Health Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Agriculture; Asthma; Demographics; Exercise; Exposures; Respirator Farmers; Agricultural Workers; Agriculture; Surveillance; Asthma; Respiratory Health; Animal Husbandry Workers; Physical Exercise; Respirators; Demographic Characteristics;
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med 2025 Dec; :[Epub ahead of print]
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Nebraska ; Kansas City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  31 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071199
• Contact Point Address:
  Risto Rautiainen, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, S 42nd & Emile St, Omaha, NE 68198
• Email:
  rrautiainen@unmc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110901
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0bceed91830ec45d85d5be729e6876207bb94b8531d196e4ae2fa8e15c5e9bedaf1a6e8583f5f7dd4d8ca6088208fd6622d3ff89b2b286a0575c2d602f4209dc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258678/cdc_258678_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.76 MB ]