Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Associations between proximity to livestock farms, primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms

Authors: Christel E. van Dijk, Lidwien A. M. Smit, Mariette Hooiveld, Jan-Paul Zock, Inge M. Wouters, Dick J. J. Heederik, C. Joris Yzermans

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Living in a neighbourhood with a high density of livestock farms has been associated with adverse respiratory health effects, but less is known about healthcare utilisation. This study aimed at investigating the associations between livestock exposure and primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms. In addition, we examined the potentially confounding effect of distance from home to general practice.

Methods

Contact data between 2006 and 2009 were obtained from electronic medical records of 54,777 persons registered within 16 general practices in an area with a high density of livestock farms in the Netherlands. Data on self-reported symptoms were used from a cross-sectional sample of 531 patients in 2010. Livestock presence in a 500 m radius from home was computed using Geographic Information System data.

Results

In general, livestock exposure was associated with fewer contacts and self-reported symptoms for respiratory and other conditions. The number of poultry within 500 m was positively associated with the number of contacts. A longer distance to general practice was associated with fewer contacts, but did not confound associations.

Conclusions

People living close to livestock farms less often see their general practitioner and report symptoms.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Radon K, Schulze A, Ehrenstein V, van Strien RT, Praml G, Nowak D. Environmental exposure to confined animal feeding operations and respiratory health of neighboring residents. Epidemiology. 2007;18:300–8.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Schinasi L, Horton RA, Guidry VT, Wing S, Marshall SW, Morland KB. Air pollution, lung function, and physical symptoms in communities near concentrated Swine feeding operations. Epidemiology. 2011;22:208–15.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Schulze A, van Strien R, Ehrenstein V, van Strien R, Praml G, Küchenhoff H, et al. Effects on pulmonary health of neighboring residents of concentrated animal feeding operations: exposure assessed using optimized estimation technique. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2011;66:146–54.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Dungan RS. BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: fate and transport of bioaerosols associated with livestock operations and manures. J Anim Sci. 2010;88:3693–706.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Smit LA, van der Sman-de Beer F, Opstal-van Winden AW, Hooiveld M, Beekhuizen J, Wouters IM, et al. Q fever and pneumonia in an area with a high livestock density: a large population-based study. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:e38843.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
6.
Pavilonis BT, Sanderson WT, Merchant JA. Relative exposure to swine animal feeding operations and childhood asthma prevalence in an agricultural cohort. Environ Res. 2013;122:74–80.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
7.
Carr-Hill RA, Place M, Posnett J. Access and the utilisation of healthcare services. In: Ferguson B, Sheldon T, Posnett J, editors. Concentration and Choice in Healthcare. London: The Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited; 1998. p. 37–49.
8.
Lamberts H. Wood M International classification of primary care: prepared for the World Organisation of national colleges, academies and academic associations of general practitioners/family physicians (WONCA) by the ICPC Working Party. New York, Tokyo: Oxford University Press; 1987.
9.
Nielen MMJ, Spronk I, Davids R, Zwaanswijk M, Verheij RA, Korevaar JC. Incidentie en prevalentie van gezondheidsproblemen in de Nederlandse huisartsenpraktijk in 2013 [Incidence and prevalence of health problems in the Dutch general practice 2013]. Available from: www.​nivel.​nl/​node/​4096. Accessed on 15-11-2015.
10.
Smit LA, Hooiveld M, van der Sman-de Beer F, Opstal-van Winden AW, Beekhuizen J, Wouters IM, et al. Air pollution from livestock farms, and asthma, allergic rhinitis and COPD among neighbouring residents. Occup Environ Med. 2014;71:134–40.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Hooiveld M, van Dijk C, van der Sman-de Beer F, Smit LA, Vogelaar M, Wouters IM, et al. Odour annoyance in the neighbourhood of livestock farming - perceived health and health care seeking behaviour. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22:55–61.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Heederik D, Yzermans CJ. Mogelijke effecten van intensieve veehouderij op de gezondheid van omwonenden [Possible effects of intensive farming on residents’ health. Utrecht/Bilthoven: IRAS University Utrecht/NIVEL/RIVM; 2011.
13.
Van Oostrom SH, Picavet HS, van Gelder BM, Lemmens LC, Hoeymans N, van Dijk CE, et al. Multimorbidity and comorbidity in the Dutch population - data from general practices. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:715.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
14.
Prins M, Hek K, Verberne L, Nielen M, Opperhuizen G, Verheij R. Zorg door de huisarts: jaarcijfers 2014 en trendcijfers 2010-2014 [GP care: figures 2014 and trends 2010-2014]. Utrecht: Nivel; 2015.
15.
Alfvén T, Braun-Fahrländer C, Brunekreef B, von Mutius E, Riedler J, Scheynius A, et al. Allergic diseases and atopic sensitization in children related to farming and anthroposophic lifestyle-the PARSIFAL study. Allergy. 2006;61:414–21.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Ege MJ, Mayer M, Normand AC, Genuneit J, Cookson WO, Braun-Fahrländer C, et al. Exposure to environmental microorganisms and childhood asthma. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:701–9.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Riedler J, Braun-Fahrländer C, Eder W, Schreuer M, Waser M, Maisch S, et al. Exposure to farming in early life and development of asthma and allergy: a cross-sectional survey. Lancet. 2001;358:1129–33.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Droomers M. Westert GP Do lower socioeconomic groups use more health services, because they suffer from more illnesses? Eur J Public Health. 2004;14:311–3.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Westert GP, Schellevis FG, de Bakker DH, Groenewegen PP, Bensing JM, van der Zee J. Monitoring health inequalities through general practice: the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice. Eur J Public Health. 2005;15:59–65.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Farmer J, Hinds K, Richards H, Godden D. Urban versus rural populations' views of healthcare in Scotland. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2005;10:212–9.CrossRefPubMed
21.
22.
Koopmans M, Wilbrink B, Conyn M, Natrop G, van der Nat H, Vennema H, et al. Transmission of H7N7 avian influenza A virus to human beings during a large outbreak in commercial poultry farms in the Netherlands. Lancet. 2004;363:587–93.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Dickx V. Vanrompay D Zoonotic transmission of Chlamydia psittaci in a chicken and turkey hatchery. J Med Microbiol. 2011;60:775–9.CrossRefPubMed
24.
25.
26.
Borlée F, Yzermans CJ, van Dijk CE, Heederik D, Smit LA. Increased respiratory symptoms in COPD patients living in the vicinity of livestock farms. Eur Respir J. 2015; doi:10.​1183/​13993003.​00265-2015.
Metadata
Title
Associations between proximity to livestock farms, primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms
Authors
Christel E. van Dijk
Lidwien A. M. Smit
Mariette Hooiveld
Jan-Paul Zock
Inge M. Wouters
Dick J. J. Heederik
C. Joris Yzermans
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-016-0421-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

BMC Primary Care 1/2016 Go to the issue

Research article

Dizziness in older people: at risk of shared therapeutic nihilism between patient and physician. A qualitative study

Research article

Urine sampling techniques in symptomatic primary-care patients: a diagnostic accuracy review

Review

The clinically excellent primary care physician: examples from the published literature

Research article

Strategies in primary healthcare to implement early identification of risky alcohol consumption: why do they work or not? A qualitative evaluation of the ODHIN study

Research article

Statin prescription initiation and lifestyle behaviour: a primary care cohort study

Research article

Contribution of extended family history in assessment of risk for breast and colon cancer