[Prevalence of rhinitis and asthma respiratory symptoms in Spanish working population]

The aims were to examine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms associated with rhinitis and asthma in Spanish workers and its variations by age, sex, work sector, location in the workplace, smoking habits and the relationship between symptoms in the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The sample was of 2603 workers in different sectors and regions throughout the country. They agreed and answered the questions regarding respiratory symptoms, with the supervision of the company's physician.

Chronic nasal symptoms were present in 438 workers (16.9 %); 193 (7.5 %) had pulmonary symptoms. With nasal and pulmonary symptoms were 124 patients (28.3 %). Likewise, of the 190 workers with pulmonary symptoms, 124 (64.2 %) had also nasal manifestations. We observed variations in nasal symptoms by sex, professional sector, work area and smoking habits, and variations in pulmonary symptoms by work sector. A higher prevalence was noted in the healthcare, postal, and transport sector as opposed to the construction, furniture or metal sector.

The prevalence of nasal symptoms was higher than that of pulmonary symptoms in the working population. The workers affected by these pathologies were not treated adequately, despite they were presenting symptoms. We observed a relationship between pulmonary and nasal symptoms.