Socioeconomic outcome of subjects experiencing asthma symptoms at work.
The aim of this study was to investigate the socioeconomic outcomes of subjects who experienced work-related asthma symptoms in the absence of demonstrable occupational asthma (OA) and to compare these outcomes with those found in subjects with documented OA. Subjects (n=157) who were being investigated for work-related asthma, were surveyed. Of these 86 had OA, ascertained by a positive specific inhalation challenge (SIC), and 71 subjects had a negative SIC response. After a median interval of 43 months (range 12-85 months), the subjects were interviewed to collect information on employment status, income changes, and asthma-related work disability. Rates of work disruption and income loss at follow-up were similar in subjects with negative SIC (46% and 59%, respectively) and in those with OA (38% and 62%). The median loss as a percentage of initial income was 23% in subjects with negative SIC and 22% in subjects with OA. Asthma-related work disability, defined as any job change or work loss due to asthma, was slightly more common in subjects with OA (72%) than in those with negative SIC (54%). This study shows that, even in the absence of demonstrable occupational asthma, work-related asthma symptoms are associated with considerable socioeconomic consequences.
Service de Pneumologie, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
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A
Larbanois
J
J
Jamart
J P
JP
Delwiche
O
O
Vandenplas
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace