Work-Related Asthma Among Certified Nurse Aides in Texas

Details

• Personal Author:
  De Los Reyes J ; Delclos GL ; Gimeno Ruiz de Porras D ; Mitchell LE ; Patel J ; Patel RR
• Description:
  Background: Although nurses are well described as being at risk of work-related asthma, certified nurse aides (CNAs) are understudied. Using a statewide registry in Texas, we measured prevalence and risk factors for work-related asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) symptoms among CNAs. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of CNAs (n = 2,114) identified through the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services registry, working in health care during 2016-2017, to collect data on job history, asthma symptoms, and sociodemographics. Two outcomes were defined: (a) new-onset asthma (NOA) after entry into the health care field and (b) BHR-related symptoms. Job exposures to cleaning compounds and tasks were assigned using an externally coded CNA-specific job-exposure matrix. Logistic regression modeling was used to measure associations between cleaning exposures and the two asthma outcomes. Findings: The final sample consisted of 413 CNAs (response rate 21.6%). The prevalence of NOA and BHR symptoms were 3.6% and 26.9%, respectively. In adjusted models, elevated odds for BHR symptoms were observed for patient care cleaning (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.45, 6.51]), instrument cleaning (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = [0.66, 2.68]), building-surface cleaning (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = [0.35, 5.60]), exposure to glutaraldehyde/orthophthalaldehyde (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = [0.66, 2.68]), and latex glove use during 1992-2000 (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = [0.84, 3.12]). There were too few NOA cases to warrant meaningful regression analysis. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Although not statistically significant, we observed elevated odds of BHR symptoms among nurse aides, associated with cleaning exposures, suggesting this is an at-risk group of health care professionals for work-related respiratory disease, meriting further study. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Health Personnel Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Work-related Asthma Certified Nurse Aides Cleaning Compounds Cross Sectional Studies Health Care Workers JEM Job Exposure Matrix Latex Nursing Nursing Assistants Nursing Professionals Occupational Asthma Respiratory Diseases

  More +
• ISSN:
  2165-0799
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Arkansas ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  491-500
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062256
• Citation:
  Workplace Health Saf 2020 Oct; 68(10):491-500
• Contact Point Address:
  Jenil Patel, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot #820, Little Rock, AR 72205
• Email:
  jpatel2@uams.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Workplace Health & Safety
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b49b947c6efe7a8834fe8a656c5e404cbedd9cc518f0ad452e28cd4c4e0dc441a2925d83c7ffa48f570893fb910c721480ab08f4033c3c19a3004feac5470062
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225540/cdc_225540_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 158.31 KB ]