Workplace exacerbation of asthma symptoms: findings from a population-based study in Maine.
In this population-based study of asthma in the State of Maine, the authors investigated how often asthma symptoms were exacerbated in the workplace. Participants from 5 hospital service areas in Maine completed a telephone questionnaire. Of 474 adult participants (18-65 yr of age) employed during the preceding year and for whom information on occupation and industry was available, 64 (13.5%) were identified with current asthma, including 28 (5.9%) with current physician-diagnosed asthma and 36 (7.6%) who met criteria for symptoms consistent with asthma. Jobs were identified a priori as "high-risk" or "low-risk" for asthma. Of the 64 asthma cases, 16 (25%) reported that their coughing or wheezing worsened at work. Among the symptom-based cases, the percentage with workplace exacerbation of asthma was elevated for high-risk jobs (7/14 = 50%) vs. low-risk jobs (3/22 = 13.6%) (p = 0.03). No similar elevation was observed for individuals with current physician-diagnosed asthma, which might have resulted, in part, from a healthy worker effect.
Henneberger
Paul K
PK
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. pkh0@cdc.gov
Deprez
Ronald D
RD
Asdigian
Nancy
N
Oliver
L Christine
LC
Derk
Susan
S
Goe
Sandra K
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017132:Workplace