Airway inflammatory profile among cleaning workers from different workplaces

Background: Asthma and Rhinitis are related to occupational respiratory diseases among cleaning workers. Objective: To evaluate airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms of cleaning workers from different workplaces. Methods: Population: 167 cleaning workers divided in 4 groups based on workplace: G1 –hospital (N = 56), G2 - University (N = 39); G3 - Domestic (N = 34) and G4 – Control (office workers. N = 38). End points: nasal cellular inflammation (nasal swab) and clinical symptoms ( 2 questionaires: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) for the diagnosis of asthma and rhinitis and European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for occupational diseases evaluation). Statistical analysis: Chi 2 , Kruskal Wallis followed by Dunn9s test. Results: All cleaning workers reported respiratory symptoms (G1-45%, G2-15%, G3-40%), asthma symptoms (G1-43%, G2-57%) particularly at work, rhinitis symptoms (G1- 46%, G2-25%, G3-29%) and beginning of symptoms after starting activities (G1-43%, G2-29%, G3-29%). Controls presented no respiratory symptoms. Cellular inflammation as Eosinophils (p=0.03), Neutrophils (p Conclusion: Cleaning workers presented airways inflammation as well asthma and rhinitis symptoms independently of the type of workplace.