Multifactorial influences on lung function in farmers: personal, occupational, and health-related factors

This study aimed to identify personal, occupational, and health-related factors associated with lung function among farmers. A total of 102 farmers were recruited. Participants were assessed for personal characteristics (sex, age, height, weight, body mass index; BMI), occupational characteristics (pesticide use and duration of pesticide use), and health-related information, including exercise habits, underlying medical conditions, history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection (timing and duration), and COVID-19 vaccination history. Lung function outcomes included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FVC ratio. For FVC (% predicted), increasing age was associated with lower FVC (B = -0.302, p = 0.033). For FEV₁ (% predicted), female sex was associated with lower FEV₁ compared with male sex (B = -6.167, p = 0.037), and a history of COVID-19 infection was associated with reduced FEV₁ (B = -8.573, p = 0.002). For FEV₁/FVC (% predicted), a history of COVID-19 infection was associated with a lower ratio (B = -7.320, p = 0.026). A history of COVID-19 infection is associated with reduced lung function, reflected in both lung volume (FVC) and airflow (FEV₁), and it may also be related to a lower FEV₁/FVC ratio. In addition, age and BMI were contributors to lower.