Characteristics of patients with work-related asthma seen in the New York State Occupational Health Clinics.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to characterize the work-related asthma population seen by the New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network (OHCN) to determine which industries, occupations, and causal agents are associated with work-related asthma in New York State (NYS).


METHODS
The OHCN patient database was analyzed to identify those patients with a diagnosis of work-related asthma and medical charts were then abstracted for data on demographics, clinical history, disease severity, industry, occupation, and putative agent.


RESULTS
The OHCN patients with work-related asthma were most commonly employed in the service and manufacturing industries. Common occupations included teachers, farm operators/managers, and construction trades. The most frequently reported putative agents associated with work-related asthma were dust, indoor air, mold, and solvents.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest the potential importance of prevention of workplace exposure in reducing adult asthma in NYS.
Fletcher
Alicia M
AM
New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Troy, NY 12180, USA. amk05@health.state.ny.us
London
Matthew A
MA
Gelberg
Kitty H
KH
Grey
Anthony J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017132:Workplace
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational