Clinical Trial: Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Flight Attendant Health

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Cardiopulmonary Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Flight Attendants

Brief Summary: This is a study on a population of flight attendants who were exposed to occupational secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS). This research will examine associations between flight attendant SHS exposure and development of respiratory illnesses, reproductive problems, and cardiovascular diseases.

Detailed Summary: The main hypothesis of this study is that exposure to the secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) in the confined workspace of commercial aircraft prior to the ban of cigarette smoking is responsible for long-term damage on the health of nonsmoking flight attendants. We will compare the data collected from our pre-ban flight attendant participants to age-matched, nonsmoking controls from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) database. The results of our study should permit us to determine if SHS exposure is the cause of long-term increased cardiovascular morbidity and risk, as well as increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses.
Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Current Primary Outcome: Characterize the long-term effects of SHS on lung and cardiovascular function in pre-ban flight attendants [ Time Frame: 25 minutes ]

A spirometry test is performed by the Clinical Research Coordinator to establish the lung function of the flight attendant participant and medical assistants from the cardiovascular care clinic administer a 12-lead non-invasive electrocardiogram.


Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Clinical Examination [ Time Frame: 30 min ]
    The cardiologist performs a noninvasive assessment of the patient's vascular function, which includes a brief physical examination, blood pressure measurement, pulse, and oxygen level.
  • Characterize the long term effects of prolonged flight time and SHS on reproductive health [ Time Frame: 10 minutes ]
    Flight attendants fill out the electronic Exposure Questionnaire prior to their appointments. Part of the Questionnaire is a section on reproductive health. The answers to these survey questions in addition to information gathered and saved in APeX during the clinic visit are used for analysis on reproductive health of flight attendants.
  • Characterize the biomarkers of SHS exposure [ Time Frame: 10 minutes ]
    A 45 mL blood specimen is drawn from interested patients to be stored in the research lab as well as analyzed in a UCSF laboratory. Results of the blood analysis performed in the research labs, such as secondhand smoke biomarkers and advanced lipid biomarkers, will not be shared with the subject.


Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of California, San Francisco

Dates:
Date Received: July 9, 2012
Date Started: January 2005
Date Completion: August 2017
Last Updated: August 10, 2016
Last Verified: August 2016