Non-specific respiratory disease and pulmonary function among motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok Metropolis and vicinity

Abstract

Motorcycle taxi drivers in urban have risk of exposure to air pollution that causes symptoms of respiratory disorders. Inhaling air pollution and accumulation in the respiratory tract causes both acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including impaired lung function. This study aimed to describe the situation of respiratory diseases and pulmonary function among motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok Metropolis and
vicinity. Data were collected by using a standardized questionnaire and spirometer. The subjects were 308 motorcycle taxi drivers. Descriptive statistics were performed in the analysis. Most of the samples were males with an average age of 49+11.1 years. More than half had alcohol and physical inactivity, and 39.3% were currently smokers. Body mass index was 32.5% representing for level 1 obesity, non-communicable
diseases were reported as hypertension at 24.7% and diabetes at 14.6%. The average work experience was 11.76+9.08 years. Average working hours was 11.10+3.28 hours per day and average working days was 6.39+1.19 days per week. The most common respiratory symptoms were chronic bronchitis at 11.4%,
followed by acute bronchitis and chronic cough at 7.5% and 2.3%, respectively. Subjects having abnormal pulmonary function test results were 28.9%, most of which were slightly restrictive abnormal. The mean %measured FVC/FEV1 was 99.34+13.85, the %predicted mean of FVC was 91.79+21.43, and the mean %predicted of FEV1 was 93.05+18.94. All subjects had a behavior of wearing masks while working because the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other risk factors, such as the concentration of inhalable particulate matter and fine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) should be determined for the
association with impaired pulmonary function in order to provide a data for the relevant agencies to solve health problems of motorcycle taxi drivers.