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ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of current asthma and the proportion of current asthma that is related to work on the farm among primary farm operators. The 2011 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey data were used to produce estimates and prevalence odds ratios. An estimated 5.1% of farm operators had asthma. Of these, 15.4% had farm work-related asthma. Among operators with farm work-related asthma, 54.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 41.8%–68.2%) had an asthma attack in the prior 12 months and 33.3% (95% CI: 21.2%–45.4%) had an asthma attack that occurred while doing farm work. Of those who had an asthma attack that occurred while doing farm work, 65.0% associated their asthma attack with plant/tree materials. This study provides updated information on asthma and the proportion of current asthma that is related to work on the farm and identifies certain groups of farm operators that might benefit from workplace asthma prevention intervention.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank Kitty J. Hendricks, MA, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for her active role as the Project Officer for the Farm and Ranch Safety Survey and Michael E. Goldcamp, PhD, and Larry A. Layne, MA, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for their assistance in Farm and Ranch Safety Survey planning, questionnaire development, and data collection and preparation for public use. The authors also thank Paul K. Henneberger, ScD, and Michael Humann, PhD, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for thoughtful comments.