title: Prevalence of Work-Related Asthma and its Impact in Primary Health Care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of occupational asthma (OA) and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) among asthmatic patients diagnosed in Primary Health Care (PHC). To analyze the impact at PHC level caused by under-diagnosis and inappropriate referral of OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional multicenter study in patients aged between 16 and 64years diagnosed with asthma, according to their medical record; all were working or had worked, and were assigned to one of 16 PHC centers in a healthcare district. Based on the responses to the questionnaire completed at the study visit, which included a thorough review of the subject's entire working history, patients were classified into three categories by an expert in occupational asthma: OA, WEA or common asthma (CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and sixty-eight patients completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of OA was 18.2% (25% in men and 14.6% in women, P=.046), and 54 patients (14.7%) were classified as WEA. The proportion of patients with work-related asthma (WRA) was therefore 32.9%. Asthmatic patients with WRA took more sick leave than CA patients (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of WRA was found, mostly treated in PHC. Under-diagnosis of WRA is widespread in PHC.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria La Garriga, Institut Català de la Salut, La Garriga, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO). Electronic address: rosaroviri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vila-Rigat
authors.affiliation: Centre de Seguretat i Salut Laboral de Barcelona, Departament d'Empresa i Ocupació, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO).
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panadès Valls
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria Les Franqueses del Vallès, Institut Català de la Salut, Les Franqueses del Vallès, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO).
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez Huet
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria Can Borràs, Institut Català de la Salut, Cardedeu, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO).
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sivecas Maristany
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria Llinars del Vallès, Institut Català de la Salut, Llinars del Vallès, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO).
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Blanché Prat
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Metropolitana Nord, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torán Monserrat
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria Vallès Oriental, Institut Català de la Salut, Granollers, Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca de Respiratori del Vallès Oriental (GRRVO).
authors.forename: Ventura
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rabell Santacana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asma ocupacional; Asma relacionada con el trabajo; Atención primaria de salud; Diagnosis; Impact; Impacto; Occupational asthma; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Primary health care