HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yacoub, M-R. Articles by Malo, J-L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yacoub, M-R. Articles by Malo, J-L.

Assessment of impairment/disability due to occupational asthma through a multidimensional approach

Dept of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.

CORRESPONDENCE: J-L. Malo, Dept of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, 5400 Gouin West, Montreal, QC, H4J 1C5, Canada. Fax: 1 5143383123. E-mail: malojl{at}meddir.umontreal.ca

Keywords: Impairment/disability, occupational asthma, psychological stress, quality of life

Received: September 29, 2006
Accepted December 14, 2006

Subjects with occupational asthma (OA) are often left with permanent sequelae after removal from exposure, and assessing their impairment/disability should utilise various tools.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether: 1) assessment of inflammation in induced sputum is relevant to impairment; and 2) use of questionnaires on quality of life and psychological factors can be useful for the evaluation of disability. In total, 40 subjects were prospectively assessed for permanent impairment/disability due to OA 2 yrs after cessation of exposure. Impairment was assessed as follows: 1) need for asthma medication; 2) asthma severity; 3) airway calibre and responsiveness; and 4) degree of inflammation in induced sputum. Disability was assessed according to quality of life and psychological distress.

There was a significant improvement in airway responsiveness and inflammation from diagnosis to the present assessment. Sputum eosinophils 2% and neutrophils >60% were present in eight (20%) and 12 (30%) out of all subjects, respectively, one or the other feature being the only abnormalities in 15% of subjects. Quality of life was moderately affected and there was a prevalence of depression and anxiety close to 50%.

In the assessment of subjects with occupational asthma, information on airway inflammation and psychological impacts are relevant to the assessment of impairment/disability, although these findings need further investigation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Tarlo, J. Balmes, R. Balkissoon, J. Beach, W. Beckett, D. Bernstein, P. D. Blanc, S. M. Brooks, C. T. Cowl, F. Daroowalla, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Work-Related Asthma: American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement Chest, September 1, 2008; 134(3_suppl): 1S - 41S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]