Aneeqa Mumtaz Joya, Iram Manzoor, Saadia Maqbool, Tayaba Waheed, Usama Afzal, Muntaha Muzaffer.
Pattern of Respiratory Symptoms in Motorcyclists in Lahore.
J Akhtar Saeed Med Coll Jan ;2(4):183-8.

Background: Road-traffic emissions induce adverse health effects, mainly respiratory health problems. Due to long-term exposure to these air pollutants, motorcyclists are at high risk of developing respiratory illnesses or worsening pre-existent diseases. This study aimed to determine the pattern of respiratory symptoms in motorcyclists in Lahore. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from Jan 2019-July 2019 among motorcyclists in Lahore. Using convenience sampling technique, a sample of 209 motorcyclists was selected. a self-constructed pre-tested questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of participants was 34.8?11.4 years. The mean duration of using a motorcycle was 14.9?8.8 years. The majority of motorcyclists traveled 1-3 hours per day. about 38.3% participants reported of having frequent respiratory illnesses. The cough was the main symptom reported by 63.6% of participants. Other reported symptoms were wheezing (20.1%), shortness of breath (37.8%), chest tightness (33.5%), nasal congestion (17.7%), sneezing (39.7%) irritation of the throat (47.4%), and asthma (22.5%). only 29% of motorcyclists used masks while riding the bikes. Twenty-two percent of respondents gave a history of hospitalization due to respiratory illnesses. Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among motorcyclists was high in Lahore. The cough was the main symptom, reported by 63.6% of participants. Other symptoms included productive cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, symptoms of rhinitis, irritation of throat and asthma. a very low percentage of motorcyclists used face masks. Key Words: air pollutants, Cough, asthma

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