Gretchen E White1, Jacek M Mazurek, Jeanne E Moorman. 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies , Morgantown, WV , USA , and.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in current employment status between persons with health professional-diagnosed work-related asthma and non-work-related asthma and to examine factors associated with unemployment in these groups. METHODS: We analyzed the 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey for ever-employed adults (excluding those who were retired, homemakers and students at the time of the interview) with current asthma in 38 states and District of Columbia (N = 25,680). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income. RESULTS: Among adults with current asthma, individuals with work-related asthma were less likely to be currently employed for wages (PR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84-0.95) and more likely to be unable to work (PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.24-1.67) than those with non-work-related asthma. Among adults with current asthma who were unemployed at the time of the interview, adults with work-related asthma did not differ from those with non-work-related asthma in naming disability as reason for unemployment (PR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.94-1.26). However, those with work-related asthma were more likely to be unable to work for health reasons other than disability (PR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.01-2.12) than adults with non-work-related asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed to determine what health reasons prevent individuals with work-related asthma from working and if the health reasons are asthma-related.
OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in current employment status between persons with health professional-diagnosed work-related asthma and non-work-related asthma and to examine factors associated with unemployment in these groups. METHODS: We analyzed the 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey for ever-employed adults (excluding those who were retired, homemakers and students at the time of the interview) with current asthma in 38 states and District of Columbia (N = 25,680). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income. RESULTS: Among adults with current asthma, individuals with work-related asthma were less likely to be currently employed for wages (PR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84-0.95) and more likely to be unable to work (PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.24-1.67) than those with non-work-related asthma. Among adults with current asthma who were unemployed at the time of the interview, adults with work-related asthma did not differ from those with non-work-related asthma in naming disability as reason for unemployment (PR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.94-1.26). However, those with work-related asthma were more likely to be unable to work for health reasons other than disability (PR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.01-2.12) than adults with non-work-related asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed to determine what health reasons prevent individuals with work-related asthma from working and if the health reasons are asthma-related.
Authors: Susan M Tarlo; John Balmes; Ronald Balkissoon; Jeremy Beach; William Beckett; David Bernstein; Paul D Blanc; Stuart M Brooks; Clayton T Cowl; Feroza Daroowalla; Philip Harber; Catherine Lemiere; Gary M Liss; Karin A Pacheco; Carrie A Redlich; Brian Rowe; Julia Heitzer Journal: Chest Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Patrick W Sullivan; Vahram H Ghushchyan; Julia F Slejko; Vasily Belozeroff; Denise R Globe; Shao-Lee Lin Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 10.793