Work-related asthma prevalence among US employed adults

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Work-related asthma (WRA) is a preventable occupational disease leading to significant health issues and disability.
• Early WRA identification and exposure avoidance are critical for effective management and mitigating adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of WRA among US workers.
• To analyze WRA prevalence by sociodemographic factors, industry, and occupation.
• To compare health outcomes and lost workdays between WRA and non-WRA workers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for employed adults.
• Prevalence estimation using multivariate logistic regression.
• Calculation of adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

• An estimated 13.0 million US workers (7.6%) had asthma, with 896,000 (6.9%) having WRA.
• WRA prevalence was highest among males, older workers (≥55 years), uninsured individuals, and those in specific service and production occupations.
• WRA workers reported higher use of preventive medication, rescue inhalers, and experienced more adverse health outcomes and lost workdays.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions, including workplace exposure assessment and control strategies, are essential for WRA prevention.
• Early identification of WRA cases is crucial for mitigating adverse health consequences and employment disability.
• Addressing WRA requires a comprehensive approach considering individual worker characteristics and workplace environments.