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

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Asthma
• Personal Author:
  Anderson, Naomi J. ; Fan, Zihong Joyce ; Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn ; Bonauto, David K. ; Rauser, Edmund
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Objective: 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.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 And Over Asthma Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Female Humans Male Occupational Diseases Occupations Prevalence Regression Analysis Young Adult

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• Source:
  J Asthma. 2014; 51(10):1035-1042.
• Pubmed ID:
  24995660
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4266043
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  5U60 OH008487/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Washington
• Volume:
  51
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045842
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cbdaf22cebf38d21a72a761c340e1c1844bda1fd3c90c424bef87ffb0ebea1b2227f3021a54bc48ee8fb73185888102929ea5123f965df92549620eb6cb48331
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/27878/cdc_27878_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 199.44 KB ]