Distribution of asthma by occupation: Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data, 2006–2009

Abstract

ObjectiveObjective: To estimate the prevalence of asthma in workers by occupation in Washington State. Methods: Data from the 2006–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the BRFSS Asthma Call-Back Survey (ACBS) in Washington State (WA) were analyzed. Using state-added and coded Industry and Occupation questions, we calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) for 19 occupational groups. Results: Of the 41 935 respondents who were currently employed during 2006–2009, the prevalence of current asthma was 8.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8–8.5%] When compared with the reference group of executive, administration and managerial occupations, three occupational groups had significantly (p < 0.05) higher PRs of current asthma: “Teachers, all levels, and Counselors’ (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1. 6%); ‘Administrative Support, including Clerical” (PR 1. 5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9%); and “Other Health Services” (PR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9). Half of the 2511 ACBS respondent workers (55.1%) indicated that they believed exposure at work had caused or worsened their asthma, but only 10.7% had ever spoken with a health care professional about their asthma being work related. Conclusions: Some occupations have a higher prevalence of current asthma than other occupations. The systematic collection of industry and occupation data can help identify worker populations with a high burden of asthma and can be used to target disease prevention efforts as well as to aid clinician recognition and treatment. Workers indicated that work-related asthma exposures are not discussed with their health care provider and this communication gap has implications for asthma management.

Adverse Health Outcomes Among Industrial and Occupational Sectors in Michigan

“…Michigan data also showed that education had the second highest prevalence of current asthma, although it was not significantly larger than the prevalence among all workers combined. By using 2006–2009 BRFSS data from the State of Washington, Anderson et al ( 3 ) found that 3 occupational groups — teachers (all levels), and counselors; administrative support workers, including clerical workers; and health service workers — had significantly higher prevalence ratios of current asthma than prevalence in all industries ( 3 ). Because of sample size limitations, we were unable to conduct analyses by the occupation subcategories used in Washington.…”

“…None of our combined occupation categories had elevated prevalence of asthma after controlling for covariates. Neither of 2 previously published analyses of asthma analyses controlled for covariates ( 3 , 4 ). Results from the 21-state study and Michigan and Washington suggest industries and occupations that should be targeted for health education efforts regarding asthma management.…”

“…We examined the prevalence of health risk factors and chronic health conditions by industry and occupation in Michigan by using 2013–2015 MIBRFSS data. Previous publications in other states have compared the prevalence of health status or risk factors by industry and occupation, but many have not controlled for confounding factors such as age, sex, race, and smoking behaviors ( 3 – 5 ), although some publications have controlled for covariates ( 6 – 8 ). In our analysis, we examined unadjusted prevalence and then used logistic regression for complex surveys to predict the adjusted prevalence of adverse health outcome by industry and occupation, controlling for other risk factors.…”

Occupational asthma of an office worker

“…An increasing number of occupational asthma cases have been reported in the last years linked to pollution of the air in different workplaces, in parallel with the increase of the number of people employed in service activities and with a better risk control of the industrial environment. (14,15) There are more than 350 substances with asthmogenic risk in workplaces. (16) Reduction of their utilization and of their concentration in the air diminishes the risk of asthma development and also the risk of aggravation of a pre-existing asthma, significantly improving the quality of life for these patients.…”

A comprehensive list of asthmagens to inform health interventions in the Australian workplace

“…Internationally, a study of more than 41,000 workers in 19 broad occupational groups in the US reported a prevalence of OA of 8.1% (95% CI 7.8–8.5%). When compared to a reference group of administration workers, the highest prevalence ratios (PR) were reported for health workers (PR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9) and teachers (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.6) 4 …”