The farming population is highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to its older age profile and poor health status, researchers from Teagasc and the National Centre for Men’s Health IT Carlow have discovered.
Lead author Dr David Meredith, said: “There are greater numbers of older people in the rural and farming population, who generally are in poorer health which makes these communities vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.”
The researchers advise farmers to adhere to the public health guidelines associated with hand washing, wearing masks and limiting close contacts which are critical to keeping the community safe.
Health risks
The study found that while many farmers have limited personal contacts outside the farm, they still face infection risks associated with vital activities such as trading via the sale of produce, or obtaining farm supplies.
Doctoral scholar in farmers’ health at Teagasc and IT Carlow, Diana van Doorn stated that medical conditions associated with more severe symptoms of COVID-19 include lung disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the co-occurrence of these diseases with obesity and smoking.
Van Doorn said: “31% of farmers used medication to control risk factors for heart cardiovascular disease which is a positive finding. However, since the COVID-19 emergency there is a marked reduction generally in persons attending medical services, which could lead to adverse health consequences in the future.”
Winter months
The researchers have called on farmers to pay particular attention to maintaining health over the winter period with exercise along and social contact for leisure purposes crucial also for managing stresses.
Director of the National Centre for Men’s Health at IT Carlow, Dr Noel Richardson urged for particular emphasis to be given to maintaining a proper diet and focusing on taking regular exercise to maintain health.
"The Irish farmers’ health research shows that 86% of farmers are overweight or obese, which is both a health and COVID-19 risk factor."
The study entitled Essential and Vulnerable: Implications of COVID-19 in Ireland has been published recently in the Journal of Agromedicine.
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The farming population is highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to its older age profile and poor health status, researchers from Teagasc and the National Centre for Men’s Health IT Carlow have discovered.
Lead author Dr David Meredith, said: “There are greater numbers of older people in the rural and farming population, who generally are in poorer health which makes these communities vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.”
The researchers advise farmers to adhere to the public health guidelines associated with hand washing, wearing masks and limiting close contacts which are critical to keeping the community safe.
Health risks
The study found that while many farmers have limited personal contacts outside the farm, they still face infection risks associated with vital activities such as trading via the sale of produce, or obtaining farm supplies.
Doctoral scholar in farmers’ health at Teagasc and IT Carlow, Diana van Doorn stated that medical conditions associated with more severe symptoms of COVID-19 include lung disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and the co-occurrence of these diseases with obesity and smoking.
Van Doorn said: “31% of farmers used medication to control risk factors for heart cardiovascular disease which is a positive finding. However, since the COVID-19 emergency there is a marked reduction generally in persons attending medical services, which could lead to adverse health consequences in the future.”
Winter months
The researchers have called on farmers to pay particular attention to maintaining health over the winter period with exercise along and social contact for leisure purposes crucial also for managing stresses.
Director of the National Centre for Men’s Health at IT Carlow, Dr Noel Richardson urged for particular emphasis to be given to maintaining a proper diet and focusing on taking regular exercise to maintain health.
"The Irish farmers’ health research shows that 86% of farmers are overweight or obese, which is both a health and COVID-19 risk factor."
The study entitled Essential and Vulnerable: Implications of COVID-19 in Ireland has been published recently in the Journal of Agromedicine.
Read more
Seaweed cuts livestock emissions – QUB study
Research highlights how COVID-19 increases risk of childhood obesity
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