Health Status of the Rural Elderly According to Farm Work History: The Iowa 65+ Rural Health Study

  • Wallace, Robert B.;
  • Kohout, Frank J.;
  • Lemke, Jon H.;
  • Morris, Martha C.;
  • Yesalis III, Charles E.
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AUTHOR ABSTRACT

In a geographically defined survey of 3,097 rural Iowans who were at least 65 yr of age, we examined the association between prior farm experience (=> 25 yr) and various measures of current health status; we controlled for age, current working status, and, where appropriate, smoking and alcohol consumption. Health status was indexed by self-reported morbid conditions, symptoms, and physical function. After controlling for smoking behavior, it was found that both men and women with previous form exposure currently experience a greater prevalence of all nine respiratory symptoms employed in the study relative to non-farmers. Farm men report a lower prevalence of Parkinson's disease and prostate conditions, but report a greater prevalence of stroke and a lower level of self- perceived health status. Women with a farm work history experience a greater level of physical function and fewer symptoms associated with mental illness. Overall significant benefits as well as risks associated with a history of farm work were identified. However, of those who survived to age 65, extended exposure o farm work did not have a major impact on the overall current health status of men and women.

JOURNAL AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

JOURNAL: Arch Environ Health. 1985; 40(5): 245-253.

Note: Archives of Environmental Health.

NLOM ID#: 86049523 .

Publication #: 86049523

This document was extracted from the CDC-NIOSH Epidemiology of Farm Related Injuries: Bibliography With Abstracts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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