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Work-Related Asthma: An Occupational Medicine Perspective
Yangwoo Kim1,2, Inah Kim3,4, Jaechul Song3,5
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Work-related asthma (WRA) is a common occupational respiratory disease. Korean surveillance shows underdiagnosis and a unique agent profile, highlighting the need for improved clinical suspicion and workplace assessments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Work-related asthma (WRA) is a significant occupational respiratory disease, with 10-25% of adult asthma cases linked to workplace exposures.
- Preventable nature of WRA underscores the importance of occupational health surveillance and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, causative agents, pathogenesis, clinical evaluation, management, and prevention of WRA.
- To emphasize Korean surveillance data and compare it with international estimates.
- To highlight challenges in WRA diagnosis and prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Korea Work-related Asthma Surveillance program data (2004-2009).
- Examination of temporal trends in causative agents, particularly isocyanates.
- Review of workers' compensation data (2013-2023) for underdiagnosis insights.
Main Results:
- The Korean surveillance program identified a low incidence (3.31/million workers), indicating a significant detection gap compared to European estimates.
- Isocyanates were a prominent causative agent (46.6%) in Korean cases, reflecting the furniture industry's influence.
- Temporal trends showed a decrease in isocyanate-related WRA cases, suggesting successful prevention efforts.
- Prognosis remains poor, with only 32% recovery after exposure cessation and a 10-fold increase in symptoms with continued exposure.
- Workers' compensation data reveal persistent underdiagnosis of WRA.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians must maintain high suspicion for occupational causes of asthma in working adults.
- Early diagnosis, exposure cessation, and workplace assessments are crucial for managing WRA.
- Establishing the Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center presents an opportunity to improve WRA surveillance and address the diagnostic gap.
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