Laura Kurth1, Mohammed Abbas Virji2, Eileen Storey2, Susan Framberg3, Christa Kallio3, Jordan Fink3, Anthony Scott Laney2. 1. Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA. Electronic address: lkurth@cdc.gov. 2. Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA. 3. Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are at increased risk for respiratory disorders. The purpose of our respiratory health survey was to estimate the prevalence of current asthma and asthma-like symptoms and their association with workplace exposures and tasks among healthcare workers at a Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information on respiratory health and work characteristics, including tasks performed, products used, and exposures, were collected by questionnaire from a convenience sample of workers employed at the VA Medical Center during 2012-2014. Associations of asthma and asthma-like symptoms with cleaning and disinfecting tasks and products as well as exposure to dampness and molds, and construction dust were evaluated using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of current asthma was 17.6% and almost half of all workers reported asthma-like symptoms. We observed elevated prevalence of current asthma among the VA healthcare workers compared to the U.S. general and working adult populations. Asthma and asthma-like symptoms were significantly associated with mold, dampness, and construction material exposures; cleaning and disinfecting products; and cleaning or disinfecting tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace exposures and tasks associated with current asthma and asthma-like symptoms were identified but further research is needed to investigate the temporal association between workplace exposures and current asthma and asthma-like symptoms. Published by Elsevier GmbH.
INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are at increased risk for respiratory disorders. The purpose of our respiratory health survey was to estimate the prevalence of current asthma and asthma-like symptoms and their association with workplace exposures and tasks among healthcare workers at a Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information on respiratory health and work characteristics, including tasks performed, products used, and exposures, were collected by questionnaire from a convenience sample of workers employed at the VA Medical Center during 2012-2014. Associations of asthma and asthma-like symptoms with cleaning and disinfecting tasks and products as well as exposure to dampness and molds, and construction dust were evaluated using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of current asthma was 17.6% and almost half of all workers reported asthma-like symptoms. We observed elevated prevalence of current asthma among the VA healthcare workers compared to the U.S. general and working adult populations. Asthma and asthma-like symptoms were significantly associated with mold, dampness, and construction material exposures; cleaning and disinfecting products; and cleaning or disinfecting tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace exposures and tasks associated with current asthma and asthma-like symptoms were identified but further research is needed to investigate the temporal association between workplace exposures and current asthma and asthma-like symptoms. Published by Elsevier GmbH.
Authors: Xaver Baur; Tor Brøvig Aasen; P Sherwood Burge; Dick Heederik; Paul K Henneberger; Piero Maestrelli; Vivi Schlünssen; Olivier Vandenplas; Dennis Wilken Journal: Eur Respir Rev Date: 2012-06-01
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: Frank de Vocht; Jan-Paul Zock; Hans Kromhout; Jordi Sunyer; Josep M Antó; Peter Burney; Manolis Kogevinas Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: M Abbas Virji; Xiaoming Liang; Feng-Chiao Su; Ryan F LeBouf; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Marcia L Stanton; Paul K Henneberger; E Andres Houseman Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 2.179
Authors: Morgan N Caridi; Michael J Humann; Xiaoming Liang; Feng-Chiao Su; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Ryan F LeBouf; Marcia L Stanton; M Abbas Virji; Paul K Henneberger Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2018-10-13 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Feng-Chiao Su; Melissa C Friesen; Michael Humann; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Marcia L Stanton; Xiaoming Liang; Ryan F LeBouf; Paul K Henneberger; M Abbas Virji Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2019-04-19 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Pia Nynäs; Sarkku Vilpas; Elina Kankare; Jussi Karjalainen; Lauri Lehtimäki; Jura Numminen; Antti Tikkakoski; Leenamaija Kleemola; Jukka Uitti Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-06-25 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Kelly T L Dang; Ameth N Garrido; Shivonne Prasad; Marina Afanasyeva; Joshua C Lipszyc; Ani Orchanian-Cheff; Susan M Tarlo Journal: Health Sci Rep Date: 2022-04-22
Authors: Steven M Rollins; Feng-Chiao Su; Xiaoming Liang; Michael J Humann; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Ryan F LeBouf; Marcia L Stanton; Mohammed A Virji; Paul K Henneberger Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2020-03-10 Impact factor: 3.079