Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore how chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect lung health, mobility, frailty and activity levels among young to middle-aged male dairy workers. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024 across 17 dairy farms in Punjab, Pakistan, involving 380 male dairy workers aged 25-40 years.Participants were grouped by respiratory health status (chronic respiratory conditions vs healthy workers). Assessments included spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC), functional tests (6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG)), FRAIL (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses and Loss of weight) questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form for physical activity. Body mass index was calculated from anthropometric data. Data were analysed using t-tests, χ² tests, correlations and regression; a p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of the 380 male dairy workers enrolled, 365 were included in the final analysis (180 with respiratory conditions, 185 without respiratory conditions). Group A (workers with CRDs, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and occupational asthma) demonstrated significantly poorer outcomes compared with group B. Specifically, lung function was markedly reduced in group A (FEV₁: 62.9% vs 91.5%, p=0.002). Functional performance was also impaired, as shown by shorter 6MWT distances (390.7 m vs 479.6 m, p=0.009) and slower TUG times (10.3 s vs 7.7 s, p=0.005). Frailty was almost four times more common in workers with CRDs than in those without (38.9% vs 10.8%, p=0.001). Likewise, low physical activity was substantially higher among workers with respiratory conditions (45.6% vs 10.3%), whereas high activity levels were predominantly observed in those without respiratory conditions (58.9% vs 16.1%). Regression analysis further identified FEV₁, age, frailty status and presence of a respiratory disease as significant predictors of functional capacity. CONCLUSIONS: CRDs among male dairy workers are associated with impaired lung function, decreased physical performance, lower physical activity levels and higher frailty.