title: Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term outcomes of asthma related to exposure to workplace dampness are not well known. The aim         of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy workplaces         and characterize factors influencing QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a questionnaire, we followed 1267 patients previously examined         for suspected occupational respiratory disease related to exposure to damp and moldy indoor environments. In addition         to demographic and other background data, the questionnaire included sections on current employment status, QOL,         anxiety and depression, somatization, hypochondria, and asthma medication. We compared the QOL of patients with         occupational asthma (OA) with that of patients with work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) or symptoms without asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Impaired QOL was found among patients diagnosed with OA when they were compared with patients in corresponding         environments with WEA or symptoms only. Not working and greater use of asthma medication were major determinants of         worse QOL. Psychological factors did not explain the differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OA induced by         exposure to workplace moisture and molds is associated with QOL deterioration. The impairment is related to being         unemployed (due to disability, retirement, job loss or other reasons) and the need for medication.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. kirsi.karvala@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karvala
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uitti
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luukkonen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000391:Air Microbiology; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents