Disposition of Work-Related Asthma in a Spanish Asthma Cohort: Comparison of Asthma Severity Between Employed and Retired Workers
Christian Romero-Mesones, Maria-Jesus Cruz, Isam Alobid, Blanca Barroso, Ebymar Arismendi, Pilar Barranco, Diana Betancor, Irina Bobolea, Blanca Cárdaba, Elena Curto, Gemma Domenech, Javier Domínguez-Ortega, David Espejo, Francisco-Javier González-Barcala, Juan-Alberto Luna-Porta, Carlos Martínez-Rivera, Paula Méndez-Brea, Joaquim Mullol, José-María Olaguibel, Cesar Picado, Vicente Plaza, Victoria Del Pozo, Santiago Quirce, Manuel-Jorge Rial, José-María Rodrigo-Muñoz, Joaquin Sastre, Sandra Serrano, Lorena Soto-Retes, Antonio Valero, Marcela Valverde-Monge, Xavier Munoz, Christian Romero-Mesones, Maria-Jesus Cruz, Isam Alobid, Blanca Barroso, Ebymar Arismendi, Pilar Barranco, Diana Betancor, Irina Bobolea, Blanca Cárdaba, Elena Curto, Gemma Domenech, Javier Domínguez-Ortega, David Espejo, Francisco-Javier González-Barcala, Juan-Alberto Luna-Porta, Carlos Martínez-Rivera, Paula Méndez-Brea, Joaquim Mullol, José-María Olaguibel, Cesar Picado, Vicente Plaza, Victoria Del Pozo, Santiago Quirce, Manuel-Jorge Rial, José-María Rodrigo-Muñoz, Joaquin Sastre, Sandra Serrano, Lorena Soto-Retes, Antonio Valero, Marcela Valverde-Monge, Xavier Munoz
Abstract
Background: Exposure to certain agents in the workplace can trigger occupational asthma or work-exacerbated asthma, both of which come under the heading of work-related asthma (WRA). Understanding the burden that WRA represents can help in the management of these patients.
Objective: To assess the influence of occupation on asthma in real life and analyze the characteristics of patients with WRA included in an asthma cohort.
Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study of a cohort of consecutive patients with asthma. A standardized clinical history was completed. Patients were classified as having WRA or non-WRA. All patients underwent respiratory function tests, FeNO test, and methacholine challenge (methacholine concentration that causes a 20% drop in FEV1) at the beginning of the study. They were classified into two groups, depending on their employment status: employed (group 1) or unemployed (group 2).
Results: Of the 480 patients included in the cohort, 82 (17%) received the diagnosis of WRA. Fifty-seven patients (70%) were still working. Mean age (SD) was 46 (10.69) years in group 1 and 57 (9.91) years in group 2 (P < .0001). Significant differences were observed in adherence to treatment (64.9% in group 1 vs 88% in group 2; P = .0354) and in severe asthma exacerbations (35.7% in group 1 vs 0% in group 2; P = .0172). No significant differences were observed in the rest of the variables analyzed.
Conclusions: The burden of WRA in specialized asthma units is not negligible. The absence of differences in the severity of asthma, the treatment administered, alterations in lung function, and the number of exacerbations in those working versus not working may support the idea that advice regarding changing jobs should be customized for individual patients.
Keywords: Exacerbation; Occupational asthma; Work-exacerbated asthma.
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed