Diagnostic criteria |
A. Diagnosis of asthma |
B. Onset of symptoms after entering the workplace |
C. Association between symptoms of asthma and work |
D. One or more of the following criteria |
1. Workplace exposure to an agent or process known to give rise to occupational asthma |
2. Significant work-related changes in FEV1 or peak expiratory flow rate |
3. Significant work-related changes in nonspecific airway responsiveness |
4. Positive response to specific inhalation challenge tests with an agent to which the patient is exposed at work |
5. Onset of asthma with a clear association with a symptomatic exposure to an irritant agent in the workplace (reactive airways dysfunction syndrome) |
Requirements |
Occupational asthma |
Surveillance case definition: A+B+C+D1 or D2 or D3 or D4 or D5 |
Medical case definition: A+B+C+D2 or D3 or D4 or D5 |
Likely occupational asthma: A+B+C+D1 |
Work-aggravated asthma: A+C (i.e. the subject was symptomatic or required medication before and had increase in symptoms or medication requirement after entering a new occupational exposure setting) |
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
RADS: reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. Adapted from 31