Objective: In recent years, non-smoking factors that play a role in the etiology of COPD have attracted attention. Occupational exposures are known to contribute 14% to the burden of COPD. In this study, we aimed to document the demographic, clinical, functional and radiological characteristics of COPD patients who applied to the occupational diseases’ outpatient clinic with respect to their occupational exposure.
Materials and Methods: The files of 33 patients with final diagnosis of COPD admitted to our outpatient clinic between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. COPD diagnosis was made by an experienced occupational diseases specialist and two pulmonologists, and subgroups were created as non-occupational, work-exacerbated and occupational COPD.
Results: All patients were male. Patients had a history of working in many sectors (mining, metal processing, textile, ceramics, construction, dental prosthesis, cement, food production, denim sandblasting, transport, brick production). Six patients (18.2%) were diagnosed with non-occupational, 16 (48.5%) with work-exacerbated and 33.3% (n=11) of the patients were occupational COPD. There were no associated effects of smoking and dust exposure on FEV1 and FE1/FVC levels. Furthermore, 69.7% of the cases had more than one exposure (multiple exposure) and there was no statistically significant difference between occupational status and multiple exposure or single exposure. No significant association was found between COPD-related radiological findings and the duration of exposure to silica dust, coal dust, metal dust and organic dust.
Conclusion: It should be kept in mind that vapour, dust, smoke and gases in the workplace may be contributing causes of COPD, even for the smokers. Patients with suspected occupational exposure should be referred to occupational and occupational diseases outpatient clinics.