@article {Larbanois1107, author = {A. Larbanois and J. Jamart and J-P. Delwiche and O. Vandenplas}, title = {Socioeconomic outcome of subjects experiencing asthma symptoms at work}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1107--1113}, year = {2002}, doi = {10.1183/09031936.02.00272202a}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the socioeconomic outcomes of subjects who experienced work-related asthma symptoms in the absence of demonstrable occupational asthma (OA) and to compare these outcomes with those found in subjects with documented OA. Subjects (n=157) who were being investigated for work-related asthma, were surveyed. Of these 86 had OA, ascertained by a positive specific inhalation challenge (SIC), and 71 subjects had a negative SIC response. After a median interval of 43 months (range 12{\textendash}85 months), the subjects were interviewed to collect information on employment status, income changes, and asthma-related work disability. Rates of work disruption and income loss at follow-up were similar in subjects with negative SIC (46\% and 59\%, respectively) and in those with OA (38\% and 62\%). The median loss as a percentage of initial income was 23\% in subjects with negative SIC and 22\% in subjects with OA. Asthma-related work disability, defined as any job change or work loss due to asthma, was slightly more common in subjects with OA (72\%) than in those with negative SIC (54\%). This study shows that, even in the absence of demonstrable occupational asthma, work-related asthma symptoms are associated with considerable socioeconomic consequences. This study was supported by the Services F{\'e}d{\'e}raux des Affaires Scientifiques, Techniques et Culturelles, Programme d{\textquoteright}appui scientifique {\`a} la protection des travailleurs grant SSTC PS/10/44.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/6/1107}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/19/6/1107.full.pdf}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }