Background The socioeconomic burden of asthma is estimated to be one of the highest among chronic diseases in Europe and North America due to direct costs and indirect costs, mainly represented by work disability. Aims This prospective population-based study has the objective to explore the predictors of work disability caused by respiratory problems. Methods 11467 subjects, aged 20-50 years, from the general population, were studied at the baseline with a short questionnaire and followed-up after ten years by questionnaire, including indicators of work disability. The influence of respiratory predictors of work disability, adjusting for other potential risk factors, was tested with logistic regression. Results Work-related respiratory problems were associated with a more severe asthma at the baseline (OR 2.86 CI 95% 2.02-4.05), adult-onset asthma (OR 2.74 CI 95% 1.69-4.44) and current exposure to asthmogens (OR 1.61 CI 95% 1.29-2.00). Change work/task was related to a more severe asthma (OR 3.10 CI 95% 1.99-4.82), adult asthma (OR 7.63 CI 95% 4.41-13.21) and childhood asthma (OR 5.64 CI 95% 3.22-9.85). New onset asthma at the follow up was a relevant risk factors to change work/task for respiratory problems (OR 10.48 CI 95% 6.68-16.44). Unemployment was predict by asthma severity at the baseline (OR 1.90 CI 95% 1.45-2.48) and new onset asthma at the follow up (OR 2.15 CI 95% 1.60-2.89). Conclusion In this longitudinal study, where a sample of general population was followed up after ten years, asthma severity at the baseline and adult asthma, especially new onset asthma, were the stronger respiratory predictors of work disability.
Is asthma really affecting your work? Respiratory work disability in a longitudinal population-based study
N. Murgia
;
2010
Abstract
Background The socioeconomic burden of asthma is estimated to be one of the highest among chronic diseases in Europe and North America due to direct costs and indirect costs, mainly represented by work disability. Aims This prospective population-based study has the objective to explore the predictors of work disability caused by respiratory problems. Methods 11467 subjects, aged 20-50 years, from the general population, were studied at the baseline with a short questionnaire and followed-up after ten years by questionnaire, including indicators of work disability. The influence of respiratory predictors of work disability, adjusting for other potential risk factors, was tested with logistic regression. Results Work-related respiratory problems were associated with a more severe asthma at the baseline (OR 2.86 CI 95% 2.02-4.05), adult-onset asthma (OR 2.74 CI 95% 1.69-4.44) and current exposure to asthmogens (OR 1.61 CI 95% 1.29-2.00). Change work/task was related to a more severe asthma (OR 3.10 CI 95% 1.99-4.82), adult asthma (OR 7.63 CI 95% 4.41-13.21) and childhood asthma (OR 5.64 CI 95% 3.22-9.85). New onset asthma at the follow up was a relevant risk factors to change work/task for respiratory problems (OR 10.48 CI 95% 6.68-16.44). Unemployment was predict by asthma severity at the baseline (OR 1.90 CI 95% 1.45-2.48) and new onset asthma at the follow up (OR 2.15 CI 95% 1.60-2.89). Conclusion In this longitudinal study, where a sample of general population was followed up after ten years, asthma severity at the baseline and adult asthma, especially new onset asthma, were the stronger respiratory predictors of work disability.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
