Objective: The present study was designed to investigate cardio-respiratory disorders among sewage workers in Alexandria in order to suggest the suitable preventive measures for this sector.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 67 male sewage workers and a control group of 60 non-exposed matched persons. All participants of the study were subjected to an interview using a pre-designed questionnaire and clinical general and systemic examinations as well as specific investigations including resting ECG, pulmonary
function testing, plain chest X-ray and measurement of the level of sulf-hemoglobin.
Results: This study showed high smoking rate among sewage workers in comparison to controls (p=0.010). The resting ECG changes reported among the exposed workers in the present study were mainly left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and ischemic changes (p=0.027). Sulf-hemoglobin level was an independent determinant factor in multiple logistic regression models with LVH and ischemic changes as the dependent variables (p= 0.050 and 0.000 respectively).
Significant reductions in percent predicted FVC and FEV1 among the exposed group versus controls (p=0.000 and 0.001 respectively), suggesting a restrictive pattern of impairment, were observed. Respiratory manifestations were the independent determinant for FVC and FEV1 in multiple regression analyses (p= 0.031 & 0.05 respectively).
Conclusion: Cardio-respiratory disorders among sewage workers should be considered in health surveillance of this sector with emphasis on antismoking measures.