An Analytical Cross-sectional Study to Compare Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Morbidity-Related Quality of Life between Construction Workers with Age-and Gender-Matched Controls

CONTEXT: Respiratory morbidity among construction workers is one of the most neglected occupational diseases, in spite of the high risk. AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and respiratory morbidity-related quality of life between people working in construction sites and the age- and gender-matched controls. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: It is an analytical cross-sectional study. METHODS AND MATERIAL: People working in the construction sites (mason/daily laborer) for at least 5 years and control group working in other occupations were included. People other than mason/daily laborer and people with a past history of COPD/bronchial asthma before joining the construction industry were excluded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Pulmonary function test was done and St. George respiratory questionnaire was used to the quality of life. Unpaired t-test and Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test were used to compare numeric outcomes and categorical outcomes respectively. RESULTS: We have included 120 construction workers and 120 age- and gender-matched controls. The Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (mean difference [MD] 0.20, 95% CI 0.025–0.381, P value 0.025), FEV1 (MD 0.21, 95% CI 0.061–0.364, P value 0.006), and FEV1\FVC% predicted (MD 5.01, 95% CI 1.11–8.92, P value 0.012) were significantly lower among the construction workers. The overall SGRQ score was also significantly higher among the construction workers indicating poor overall respiratory morbidity-related quality of life (MD 12.69, 95% CI 10.59–14.80, P value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function and respiratory function-related quality of life are considerably poor among people working in the construction industry.