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.