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Background:

Small airways disease (SAD) is a key risk in developing obstructive lung diseases (OLD). Handgrip strength (HGS) is found to be associated with pulmonary function in populations with lung conditions. Hispanics remain the main workforce in farming industry, but their prevalence of lung conditions remain understudied. Likewise, HGS also remains understudied in Hispanic and farmworker populations. Our study investigated the prevalence of SAD and OLD as well as their associations with HGS among Hispanic farmworkers.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study analyzed 113 Hispanic farmworkers (54% female) who were screened using pulmonary function tests during annual health fairs in rural Southeastern US from 2013 to 2017. Smoking status was self-reported. SAD was defined as forced expiratory flow at 25–75% predicted of vital capacity (FEF 25− 75% predicted)≤ 60% per literature and OLD defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio< 70% per Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria. Seated isometric absolute (the sum of both hands) and relative (absolute handgrip strength divided by body mass index) handgrip strengths were collected.

Results:

26.5% of subjects had SAD and 15.9% had OLD. 50% of subjects with SAD had OLD while 83% of subjects with OLD had SAD. 13% of overall population smoked. Lower absolute and relative HGS groups had higher prevalence of SAD and OLD. Multivariate linear regression showed that lower absolute and relative HGS were associated with worsened small airway function. Age and FEF 25− 75% predicted were …