Characteristics | |
Subjects n | 212 |
Male:female | 125 (59):87 (41) |
Age yrs | 38.8±10.7 |
Atopy +ve:−ve:unknown | 125 (59):84 (40):3 (1) |
Smoking S:ES:NS | 46 (22):67 (32):99 (47) |
Duration of exposure at work yrs | 11.9±10.0 |
Interval between onset of exposure and onset of symptoms yrs | 8.6±9.2 |
Interval between onset of symptoms and questionnaire yrs | 4.1±4.8 |
Interval between last exposure at work and questionnaire yrs | 0.7±1.2 |
FEV1 % pred | 92.8±15.4 |
Values <80% pred | 41 (19) |
PC20 mg·mL−1 | |
Values ≤16 mg·mL−1 | 157 (74) |
Confirmed diagnosis of OA | 72 (34) |
No OA and PC20 ≤16 mg·mL−1 | 90 (42) |
Molecular weight of the suspected agents high:low-molecular-weight agent | 71 (33)/141 (66) |
Molecular weight of the causal agents high:low-molecular-weight agent | 40 (56)/32 (44) |
Nature of causal agents | 72 |
Flour and cereals | 17 (24) |
Latex | 15 (21) |
Isocyanates | 11 (15) |
Various chemicals | 9 (12) |
Wood dusts | 7 (10) |
Laboratory animals | 4 (5) |
Persulfate | 3 (4) |
Resins and glues | 2 (3) |
Various proteins | 2 (3) |
Metals | 2 (3) |
Data are presented as n (%) or mean±sd. +ve: positive; −ve: negative; S: smoker; ES: ex-smoker; NS: nonsmoker; FEV1 % pred; forced expiratory volume in one second of per cent predicted; PC20: provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1; OA: occupational asthma.