Statistical Analysis on Novel Corona Virus: COVID-19

Background & Aims: Environmental air pollution including vehicular emissions remains a health hazard to those exposed including traffic policemen working in various metro and non-metro cities.The aim of this study is to evaluate the pulmonary functions of the traffic police officers posted at various traffic junctions throughout Pune city in order to ascertain whether prolonged exposure to environmental air pollution including vehicle exhausts have any adverse effects on the traffic police officers' lung functions.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to July 2022 among 226 traffic police personnel, aged 18-55 years,working in Pune city at various traffic junctions.Measurement of pulmonary function testing was done using portable spirometer.Statistical analysis was carried out and the findings were expressed in the terms of mean, absolute values and percentages.Results: The study consisted of a total of 226 traffic policeman.The average age of the study participants was found to be 38 years.Majority of the traffic policeman were males, with only 10/226 being females.In the present study, 12.83% had habit of smoking.The average height of the study population was 167.9 cm, and the average weight of the population was 71.63 kg.The average measured and predicted FEV1 was 3.09 and 3.14 respectively.However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.The average measured and predicted FVC was 3.53 and 3.78 respectively.This difference was found to be statistically significant.The average FEV1/FVC was found to be 85.44.On performing spirometry, total 27 out of 226 (12%) traffic policemen were found to have abnormality which includes 9 (4%) were found to have obstruction and 18 (8%) had restriction.Conclusion: Spirometry in traffic policeman is a unique tool to identify underlying respiratory illnesses.It is a useful screening tool to periodically evaluate their lung health as they are continually exposed to environmental air pollution.