Work-related asthma: prevalence estimates by sex, age and smoking habits in a community sample.
METHODS
Two-phased study of a general population sample in Norway.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of work-related asthma by sex, age and smoking habits.


METHODS
The first phase, a mail questionnaire on asthma to a random sample of the general population of Hordaland County, Norway, gave a 90% response. A stratified sample of the responders (n = 1512) was invited to complete an occupational history questionnaire and performing spirometry and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The attendance rate was 84%. Asthmatics were defined as having work-related asthma if they answered positively the questions: "Have you ever had respiratory symptoms in relation to your work? Did the symptoms improve on absence from work?"


RESULTS
The prevalence of work-related asthma was 0.9% in this population, constituting 28% of all asthmatics (95% confidence interval 25-31). The prevalence of work-related asthma was twice as high in men as in women, and did not differ significantly with age or between smoking groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related asthma amounts to a significant proportion of total asthma in this population. This should be taken into account by health planners as it is by definition a preventable disorder.
Bakke
P S
PS
Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
Gulsvik
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000145:classification; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires