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. 2013 May;22(4):771-80.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-012-0206-7. Epub 2012 Jun 4.

Health-related quality of life among adults with work-related asthma in the United States

Gretchen E Knoeller  1 , Jacek M Mazurek, Jeanne E Moorman
Affiliations

Health-related quality of life among adults with work-related asthma in the United States

Gretchen E Knoeller et al. Qual Life Res. 2013 May.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine health-related quality of life among adults with work-related asthma.

Methods: We analyzed 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey data for ever-employed adults with current asthma from 38 states and District of Columbia. Individuals with work-related asthma had been told by a doctor or other health professional that their asthma was related to any job they ever had. Health-related quality of life indicators included poor self-rated health, impaired physical health, impaired mental health, and activity limitation. We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, employment, and health insurance.

Results: Of ever-employed adults with current asthma, an estimated 9.0% had work-related asthma, 26.9 % had poor self-rated health, 20.6% had impaired physical health, 18.2% had impaired mental health, and 10.2% had activity limitation. Individuals with work-related asthma were significantly more likely than those with non-work-related asthma to have poor self-rated health [PR, 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31-1.60], impaired physical health (PR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.42-1.80), impaired mental health (PR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.34-1.80), and activity limitation (PR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.81-2.56).

Conclusions: Future research should examine opportunities to improve health-related quality of life among individuals with work-related asthma.

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