RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF HISPANIC MIGRANT FARM-WORKERS IN INDIANA

The prevalence of respiratory disease in a Midwest Hispanic (mostly Me xican) migrant from worker population was investigated Chronic respira tory symptoms (cough, wheezing, sputum production) in adult workers (n = 354) were elevated (8.5%, 6.2%, 6.5%, respectively) and were accomp anied by physiologic abnormalities as determined by pulmonary function testing. Over 15% of the adult cohort exhibited a FEV(1)/FVC < 75, an d over 14% had FEF(25-75) values which were less than 60% of predicted . The observed airflow obstruction of both large and small airways was not explained by cigarette usage (43%) in the adult cohort (current/p ast smokers). Tuberculin skin tests (TST) were positive (greater than or equal to 10 mm) in 55/195 melt and 35/123 women for a total prevale nce of 28.3%. No case of active tuberculosis (TB) was identified by ei ther chest X-ray (CXR) or sputum cultures (in selected cases). In cont rast to. adult farm workers, who were predominantly born in Mexico (70 %), only 36% of adolescent workers (age 11-28 years, n = 107) were bor n in Mexico with only 7.5% exhibiting TST positivity. Airflow obstruct ion of large airways (5.8%) and small airways (12.9%) were also less c ommon in adolescents than adults. In summary these studies document re spiratory dysfunction in Hispanic migrant farm workers in Indiana and highlight the need to closely monitor the respiratory health of this h igh-risk population. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.