Are we failing workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the route to secondary care for patients with possible occupational asthma, and to document the duration of workrelated symptoms and referral times.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with suspected occupational asthma were recruited to a case series from six secondary care clinics with an interest in occupational asthma. Semi-structured interviews were performed and hospital case notes were reviewed to summarise relevant investigations and diagnosis.


RESULTS
97 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 44.2 years (range 24-64), 51 of whom (53%) had occupational asthma confirmed as a diagnosis. Most (96%) had consulted their general practitioner (GP) at least once with work-related respiratory symptoms, although these had been present for a mean of 44.6 months (range 0-320 months) on presentation to secondary care. Patients experienced a mean delay for assessment in secondary care of 4 years (range 1-27 years) following presentation in primary care.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant diagnostic delay currently occurs for patients with occupational asthma in the UK.
Fishwick
David
D
Medical Unit, Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, UK. d.fishwick@sheffield.ac.uk
Bradshaw
Lisa
L
Davies
Jo
J
Henson
Mandy
M
Stenton
Chris
C
Burge
Sherwood
S
Niven
Rob
R
Warburton
Chris J
CJ
Hendrick
David
D
Rogers
Trevor
T
Rawbone
Roger
R
Curran
Andrew D
AD
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors