Byssinosis and lung health among cotton textile workers: baseline findings of the MultiTex trial in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objectives: To assess the association of exposure in cotton mills in Karachi with different definitions of byssinosis and lung health.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey took place between June 2019 and October 2020 among 2031 workers across 38 spinning and weaving mills in Karachi. Data collection involved questionnaire-based interviews, spirometry and measurements of personal exposure to inhalable dust.

Impact of using different predictive equations on the prevalence of chronic byssinosis in textile workers in Pakistan.

Objective: Byssinosis remains a significant problem among textile workers in low/middle-income countries. Here we share our experience of using different prediction equations for assessing 'chronic' byssinosis according to the standard WHO classification using measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV).

Methods: We enrolled 1910 workers in a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve the health of textile workers in Pakistan.