Work-related asthma and employment status – 38 states and District of Columbia, 2006–2009

Abstract

Objectives: To examine differences in current employment status between persons with health professional-diagnosed work-related asthma and non-work-related asthma and to examine factors associated with unemployment in these groups. Methods: We analyzed the 2006–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey for ever-employed adults (excluding those who were retired, homemakers and students at the time of the interview) with current asthma in 38 states and District of Columbia (N = 25 680). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income. Results: Among adults with current asthma, individuals with work-related asthma were less likely to be currently employed for wages (PR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84–0.95) and more likely to be unable to work (PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.24–1.67) than those with non-work-related asthma. Among adults with current asthma who were unemployed at the time of the interview, adults with work-related asthma did not differ from those with non-work-related asthma in naming disability as reason for unemployment (PR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.94–1.26). However, those with work-related asthma were more likely to be unable to work for health reasons other than disability (PR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.01–2.12) than adults with non-work-related asthma. Conclusions: Additional studies are needed to determine what health reasons prevent individuals with work-related asthma from working and if the health reasons are asthma-related.

• Asthma
• behavioral risk factor surveillance system
• employment
• occupational health

Acknowledgements

We thank the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System state coordinators for their assistance in collecting the data used in this analysis. We thank Penelope Baughman, PhD, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Paul Garbe, DVM, MPH, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for thoughtful comments.