The prevalence of asthma work relatedness: Preliminary data

• Authors: Wojciech Dudek , Izabela Kupryś-Lipińska , Tomasz Wittczak , Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura , Maciej Kupczyk , Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa , Piotr Kuna , Cezary Pałczyński

Abstracts

EN

Objectives About 5–10% of asthmatics do not respond well to standard treatment plan. Occupational exposure may be one of the factors that can be linked with treatment failure. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of work-related asthma (WRA) among adult asthmatics under follow up in an outpatient allergy clinic and to create a useful tool for detecting individuals with possible WRA. Material and Methods Preliminary 5-question questionnaire designed to recognize WRA was presented to 300 asthmatics. All patients with positive preliminary verification along with 50 subjects from control group were asked to fill up a detailed questionnaire. The WRA was diagnosed by positive match for asthma symptoms in combination with workplace exposure indicated in the detailed WRA questionnaire followed by confirmation of each WRA case by detailed exposure analysis. Results Work-related asthma was recognized in 63 subjects (21% of study group). The preliminary questionnaire has 76.9% sensitivity and 94% specificity in recognition of WRA. Occupational exposure to irritants is a risk factor of WRA recognition (relative risk (RR) = 2.09 (1.44:3.03)). Working in exposure-free environment is a factor against WRA recognition (RR = 0.38 (0.24:0.61)). Among subjects with work-related asthma, the uncontrolled course of the disease is significantly more frequent (p = 0.012). Subjects with WRA more often report sickness absenteeism due to asthma than those without WRA (9.6% vs. 3.2%, respectively), but the observed differences did not reach the statistical significance. Conclusions Short 5-question questionnaire seems to be a promising tool to detect individuals with possible work-related asthma in the outpatient setting for further evaluation and additional attention.

Keywords

EN

asthma; occupational diseases; epidemiology

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1025-1029

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Wojciech Dudek

• Dr Karol Jonscher City Hospital, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Diseases and Cardiology)

author

Izabela Kupryś-Lipińska

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy)

author

Tomasz Wittczak

• The Regional Centre for Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

author

Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

author

Maciej Kupczyk

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy)

author

Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

author

Piotr Kuna

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy)

author

Cezary Pałczyński

• Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00513

Biblioteka Nauki

2177104