Vocational and working career of asthmatic adolescents is only slightly affected.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate whether teenagers and adolescents (10-22 years) with asthma or asymptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness, were more likely to experience vocational or professional career limitations in the future, as compared to non-asthmatic contemporaries.


METHODS
Data were used from a 14-year follow-up study in general practice, investigating the relationship between respiratory health in childhood and adolescence. At follow-up, the respiratory health status and information about career limitations were obtained.


RESULTS
There were no statistical significant differences between asthmatics (n=52) and non-asthmatics (n=154) in the proportion currently employed subjects, or contract type. Most examined career limitations were infrequently reported in both groups, but seemed to occur slightly more frequent among asthmatics. Asthmatics seemed to have an increased risk for limitations in daily activities both attributable to their respiratory health (OR=2.6, 95% CI [1.0; 7.0]) and all-cause (OR=1.8, 95% CI [0.9; 3.3]), and for absence from work all-cause (OR=1.7, 95% CI [0.9; 3.3]). However, the differences were in most cases in the magnitude of only a few days per year. Neither lung function nor bronchial hyperresponsiveness did predict absence from work, or limitations in daily activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthmatic young adults seem to experience somewhat more limitations in their vocational and professional careers. Nonetheless, the majority of the young asthmatics seem to be only slightly limited in their careers. In non-asthmatic young adults the presence of asymptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness does not seem to lead to career limitations.
Orbon
Karin H
KH
Department of Pulmonology Dekkerswald, Netherlands Expert Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9001 6560 GB Groesbeek, The Netherlands. k.orbon@hag.umcn.nl
van der Gulden
Joost W J
JW
Schermer
Tjard R J
TR
van den Nieuwenhof
Lotte
L
Boot
Cécile R L
CR
van den Hoogen
Henk
H
van Weel
Chris
C
Folgering
Hans Th M
HT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011379:Prognosis; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014797:Vital Capacity