Although they did not present with chronic activity-related dyspnoea, subjects with a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC

Allergic mechanisms related to environmental and occupational exposure have been suggested to contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives To investigate the relationships between atopy markers, persistent airflow limitation (PAL) and occupational exposure in dairy farmers. Methods Clinical and biological (total IgE and 21 allergen specific IgE) markers of atopy were assessed in 101 dairy farmers with PAL (DF-PAL), 85 non-farmers with PAL (NF-PAL) (both groups were prospectively included from a screening program performed between 2011 and 2015), and matched controls, i.e. 98 farmers without PAL (DF-controls) and 89 non-farming subjects without PAL (NF-controls). Occupational exposure in farmers was estimated using a validated questionnaire. Results Prevalence of allergy history was significantly higher in DF-PAL and in NF-PAL than in controls. Polysensitization, and sensitization to seasonal and food allergens were more frequent in DF-PAL than in DF-controls, respectively: 13.8% vs 1% (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 17.5 (2.2–134), 11.9% vs 3.1% (aOR: 4.4 (1.2–7.2) and 16.8% vs 4.1% (aOR: 5.2 (1.7–7.2)). The prevalence of atopy markers was similar between NF-PAL patients and NF-controls. Conclusions PAL in farmers is associated with a high rate of markers of atopy, supporting atopy as a risk indicator. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02540408). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-019-1082-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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