Study of the Distribution of the Frequency of Respiratory Diseases Caused by Particulate Matter and Dust in the Sistan Region

Abstract

Background: Dust storms are natural phenomena in which soil particles are transported in large quantities from one area and deposited in other areas. This phenomenon has adverse effects on the life and health status of individuals. Objectives: Considering the importance of this issue, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the frequency distribution of respiratory diseases caused by fine dust and dust in the Sistan region. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on patients referred to Amir Al-Momenin Hospital in Zabol with complaints of respiratory problems due to dust storms. Data related to air index pollutants and dust storms were collected from the Sistan Meteorological Center. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect information, and its validity was confirmed through content validity with the opinions of approved experts. SPSS V22 software was used for data analysis. Results: In the present study, 71 patients were studied. In this study, 57.7% (41 people) of the participants were female. Most of the participants (52.1%) were engaged in agriculture and/or animal husbandry. Also, 47.9% of the patients stated that they had a laborer's job. In this study, the frequency distribution of various underlying diseases among the participants indicated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (35.2%), hypertension (35.2%), and diabetes (25.4%) were among the most common underlying diseases in the patients studied. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that exposure to excessive dust causes a significant increase in the symptoms of respiratory diseases and a significant decrease in lung function parameters. Therefore, to reduce or eliminate the prevalence of these symptoms, plans should be made to reduce the amount of dust in the area.