Tiwari, R RZodpey, S PDeshpande, S GVasudeo, N D1998-04-042009-06-011998-04-042009-06-011998-04-04Tiwari RR, Zodpey SP, Deshpande SG, Vasudeo ND. Peak expiratory flow rate in handloom weavers. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 1998 Apr; 42(2): 266-70http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/108192The present cross-sectional study with a comparison group was carried out to investigate peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in handloom weavers and to study relationship between reduction in PEFR with age, smoking, duration of cotton dust exposure and respiratory morbidity. This study include 319 handloom weavers and equal number of individuals (group matched for age and pair matched for sex) in comparison group. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with advancing age, longer duration of exposure to cotton dust, tobacco smoking and presence of respiratory morbidity on univariate analysis, whereas on multivariate analysis longer duration of exposure to cotton dust and tobacco smoking was found to be non significant.engAdultAging --physiologyCross-Sectional StudiesDust --adverse effectsFemaleGossypium --adverse effectsHumansLung --physiologyMaleMiddle AgedMultivariate AnalysisOccupational ExposurePeak Expiratory Flow RateTextile IndustryComparative Study