%0 Journal Article %A Khosro Sadeghniiat %A Omid Aminian %A Arezu Najafi %A Sussan Salehpour %A Alireza Eslaminejad %A Gholamreza Derakhshan Deilami %A Keramat Nourijelyani %A Susan Tarlo %T Prevalence of work-related asthma among adult asthmatics referred to pulmonary clinics %D 2012 %J European Respiratory Journal %P P1031 %V 40 %N Suppl 56 %X Background: The most common occupational lung disease reported in industrial countries is occupational asthma. There are limited data about the prevalence of work-related asthma among asthmatics in Iran.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of work-related respiratory symptoms (WRS) and occupational exposures in asthmatic adults at pulmonary clinics.Material and methods: A cross sectional study was performed. All ≥17 year old asthmatics were recruited into the study. A questionnaire mainly based on one developed by NIOSH was completed by each participant. Currently employed subjects were subdivided into two groups by WRS status. Subjects' occupation and workplace exposures were evaluated using an asthma specific job exposure matrix (JEM). Statistical analyses were conducted using the Student's T-test for continuous data and Chi square for categorical data. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated, using a Cox regression model.Results: 39 (21.8%) of 179 current employed asthmatics (11% of all 339 adult asthmatics) had WRS. Subjects with WRS were more likely to have self-reported allergy (PR:2.7 Pvalue:0.003) and low molecular weight antigens' exposure (PR:2.7 Pvalue: 0.0001). According to the JEM, those with WRS had more high risk occupational exposures (PR: 2.2 Pvalue:0.003). The two most frequent occupational classes for asthmatics with WRS were trades, transport and equipment operators (33%), and processing, manufacturing and utilities (31%).Conclusion: Prevalence of WRS in the current study is consistent with previous reports of work- attributed asthma. Study results emphasize further need for taking complete occupational histories in adult asthmatics. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/40/Suppl_56/P1031.full.pdf