One hundred fire-fighters were selected by first stratifying according to the duration of
service and then randomly selecting proportionate numbers from each category. Controls
were group matched for age and smoking habits. The study consisted of a questionnaire on
respiratory symptoms, concurrent diseases, symptoms and habits, a clinical examination and
ventilator capacity measurement’s modified harvard step test and electrocardiography for
those over 40 years of age was also carried out. A high percent (76 percent) of fire-fighters
suffer from acute respiratory symptoms, the most prevalent ones being runny nose and
cough. Those who use face masks had a lower prevalence of burning sensation and dryness
of throat, or difficulty in breathing which was statistically significant (P0.05).The measured
ventilator capacities were within the normal range of predicated value under the percent
predicated method. However, with increasing age and /or duration of service the differences
between the predicated and measured values appear to increase. The same trend is seen with
the FEVI/FVC percent. The percent predicted method does not appear to be a method
sensitive to such changes.
One hundred fire-fighters were selected by first stratifying according to the duration of
service and then randomly selecting proportionate numbers from each category. Controls
were group matched for age and smoking habits. The study consisted of a questionnaire on
respiratory symptoms, concurrent diseases, symptoms and habits, a clinical examination and
ventilator capacity measurement’s modified harvard step test and electrocardiography for
those over 40 years of age was also carried out. A high percent (76 percent) of fire-fighters
suffer from acute respiratory symptoms, the most prevalent ones being runny nose and
cough. Those who use face masks had a lower prevalence of burning sensation and dryness
of throat, or difficulty in breathing which was statistically significant (P0.05).The measured
ventilator capacities were within the normal range of predicated value under the percent
predicated method. However, with increasing age and /or duration of service the differences
between the predicated and measured values appear to increase. The same trend is seen with
the FEVI/FVC percent. The percent predicted method does not appear to be a method
sensitive to such changes.
