title: Risk of asthma in relation to occupation: A hospital-based case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is a common occupational lung disease and is preventable by removing identifiable allergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) To assess the relationship between occupation and asthma (2) To determine the agents associated with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this hospital-based, case-control study 153 cases from the Asthma Clinic and 306 non-asthmatic controls from Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand were interviewed. Crude odds ratios (COR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and adjusted ORs (AOR) for multiple logistic regression were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 153 cases, 70.6% were females with median age of 53 (IQR-14). Of the 306 controls, 62.4% were females with median age of 56 (IQR-16). The highest risk of asthma was family history of asthma and history of atopy [AOR 11.68 (95% CI 4.52, 30.24) and AOR 8.03 (95% CI 5.07, 13.60)], respectively. If only occupations were considered, healthcare workers had the highest risk [AOR 4.08 (95% CI 1.35, 12.30)], followed by textile workers [AOR 3.34 (95% CI 1.07, 10.47)] and school workers AOR 2.40 (95% CI 1.31, 4.41). When subgroups of non-atopy were considered, school workers had a significant association with asthma [COR 3.18 (95% CI 1.48, 6.83)]. When no family history of asthma was considered, school and textile workers had the most significant association with asthma [COR 3.10 (95% CI 1.87, 5.13) and COR 3.06 (95% CI 1.15, 8.13), respectively]. Inorganic dust was the agent most significantly associated with asthma COR 1.89 (95% CI 1.25, 2.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School, textile and healthcare workers have the greatest risk of asthma. Family history of asthma and being atopic would also promote asthma in relation to occupation.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Darika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wortong
authors.forename: Naesinee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaiear
authors.forename: Watchara
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boonsawat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013783:Textile Industry; D013785:Thailand; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace