O-339 Screening for respiratory morbidities among traffic police personnel working in Mumbai, India. (14th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shakthi Dorai, B; Mishra, Gauravi; Pimple, Sharmila; Kulkarni, Vasundhara; Patil, Anil; Punjabi, Anshu; Biraris, Pavankumar; Bhaskar, Maheema; Tandon, Sandeep; Salvi, Anjali Alpan; Patil, Anuradha Maharu
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 80(2023)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A76
• Page End: A76
• Publication Date: 2023-03-14
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/OEM-2023-EPICOH.187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Motor vehicles contribute to one of the largest sources of pollution in most urban areas. One of the major determinants of health is a person's occupation. Traffic police, due to their work environment, face multiple occupational health hazards and are vulnerable to develop respiratory morbidities. Method: Study amongst traffic police in Mumbai was initiated in June 2022. Permissions were obtained from senior authorities of Traffic Police Division to screen 3000 traffic police personnel working in Mumbai Traffic Police Division. Screening camps were set up at different Police Chowkis located under the flyovers. Informed consent was obtained, followed by sociodemographic, risk factor assessment and health education sessions. Screening for respiratory morbidities were conducted by trained primary health workers using Spirometry. Screen positive participants were referred to Police hospital for further evaluation. Interim analysis with screening for 749 participants is presented in this abstract. Results: Mean age of participants was 45.24 ± 8.142 years. 305 (40.7%) were smokers. Mean total years of service was 22.12 ± 8.462 and mean duration for working on traffic duty was 3.47 ± 1.531 years. 305 (40.7%) had more than 8 hours of average daily duty. Amongst the 749 screened, 339 (45%) had abnormal spirometry. 244 (32.6%), 14 (1.9%), 6 (0.8%) and 2 (0.3%) had small airway, mild, moderate and severe obstruction; 31 (4.1%) had restrictive and 42 (5.6%) had mixed defect. All screen positives were referred to the police nodal hospital. Smoking history was not found to be a confounding factor for abnormal spirometry (ORR-1.09 [95% C.I 0.815 – 1.464] p value-0.55). Conclusion: Traffic Police Personnel are at risk of developing respiratory morbidities irrespective of smoking status. Our study clearly mandates use of protective measures, health education, regular screening and detailed assessment for respiratory morbidities as an on-going measure for all traffic police.