Characteristics associated with health care professional diagnosis of work-related asthma among individuals who describe their asthma as being caused or made worse by workplace exposures

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with health care professional-diagnosed work-related asthma (WRA) among adults who describe their asthma as being caused or made worse by workplace exposures (possible WRA). METHODS: We calculated prevalence ratios adjusted for age and sex using data from the 2006 to 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-Back Survey from 37 states and the District of Columbia for ever-employed adults with current asthma and possible WRA. RESULTS: An estimated 17.6% of ever-employed adults with current asthma and possible WRA had health care professional-diagnosed WRA. Health care professional-diagnosed WRA was associated with age, income, employment status, asthma control level, asthma attack, emergency department visit, hospitalization, urgent treatment, and changing/quitting a job due to asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Among ever-employed adults with possible WRA, health care professional-diagnosed WRA is associated with poorer asthma control and frequent unscheduled health care visits.