Data linkage to estimate the extent and distribution of occupational disease: new onset adult asthma in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Data linkage of administrative records can demonstrate under-reporting of occupational asthma and indicate areas for prevention.

Work-related asthma in France: recent trends for the period 2001–2009

“…Previous studies have reported an increased incidence of OA in industrialised countries21 but with no clear data concerning recent trends,8 17 as very few longitudinal WRA incidence data are available. A non-significant decrease of WRA was reported by occupational physicians in the SWORD programme9 for the 1995–2005 period (−1.9%, 95% CI −5.2% to −1.4%).…”

Worldwide trends in incidence in occupational allergy and asthma

“…In Alberta and British Columbia, linkage between health records and employer-paid health premium codes allowed estimates of new adult-onset asthma by industry of employment [29,30]. The data linkage approach used in Alberta and British Columbia provides an alternative to reporting schemes for population surveillance [30], and in future changes in the work-attributable fraction of occupational asthma could be used to estimate trends. Also in British Columbia, the use of linked records to study asthma rates by industry showed an increasing trend in all industries from 1999 to 2003 [31].…”

Occupational Pesticide Exposures and Respiratory Health

“…Data sources on health outcomes of occupational pesticide exposures include workers’ compensation (WC) systems, hospital and occupational medicine specialist admission and discharge data, and health insurance data. However, workers’ compensation (WC) systems are generally different from region to region, and health insurance information may be incomplete or inaccurate, especially for those part-time workers without health insurance [187,188,189,190]. In addition, longitudinal studies are preferable for characterizing long-term respiratory health effect.…”