Work‐related asthma prevalence among US employed adults Syamlal, Girija; Dodd, Katelynn E.; Mazurek, Jacek M.
American journal of industrial medicine,
June 2024, 2024-Jun, 2024-06-00, 20240601, Letnik:
67, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Background
Work‐related asthma (WRA), a preventable occupational disease, can result in adverse health outcomes and employment disability, including decreased productivity, lost workdays, and job ...loss. Early identification of WRA cases and avoidance of further exposures is crucial for optimal management.
Objective
We estimate WRA prevalence among US workers by selected sociodemographic characteristics, industry, and occupation groups and assess the differences in adverse health outcomes, preventive care, and lost workdays between persons with WRA and those with non‐WRA.
Methods
The 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for working adults aged ≥18 years employed in the 12 months before the survey were analyzed. Prevalence, and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.
Results
Of the estimated 170 million US adults working in the past year, 13.0 million (7.6%) had asthma. Among workers with asthma, an estimated 896,000 (6.9%) had WRA. WRA prevalence was highest among males, workers aged ≥55 years, those with no health insurance, those living in the Midwest, and those employed in the accommodation, food, and other services industry, and in production, installation, transportation, and material moving occupations. Workers with WRA were significantly more likely to use preventive medication and rescue inhalers, and to experience adverse health outcomes and lost workdays than workers with non‐WRA.
Conclusion
Early identification of WRA cases, assessment of workplace exposures, and implementation of targeted interventions that consider the hierarchy of controls are critical to preventing future WRA cases and associated adverse health consequences.
Workplace tobacco control interventions reduce smoking and secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. workers. Data on smoke-free workplace policy coverage and cessation programs by industry and occupation ...are limited. This study assessed smoke-free workplace policies and employer-offered cessation programs among U.S. workers, by industry and occupation.
Data from the 2014–2015 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, a random sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized population, were analyzed in 2018. Self-reported smoke-free policy coverage and employer-offered cessation programs were assessed among working adults aged ≥18 years, overall and by occupation and industry. Respondents were considered to have a 100% smoke-free policy if they indicated smoking was not permitted in any indoor areas of their workplace, and to have a cessation program if their employer offered any stop-smoking program within the past year.
Overall, 80.3% of indoor workers reported having smoke-free policies at their workplace and 27.2% had cessation programs. Smoke-free policy coverage was highest among workers in the education services (90.6%) industry and lowest among workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry (64.1%). Employer-offered cessation programs were significantly higher among workers reporting 100% smoke-free workplace policies (30.9%) than those with partial/no policies (23.3%) and were significantly higher among indoor workers (29.2%) than outdoor workers (15.0%).
Among U.S. workers, 100% smoke-free policy and cessation program coverage varies by industry and occupation. Lower smoke-free policy coverage and higher tobacco use in certain industry and occupation groups suggests opportunities for workplace tobacco control interventions to reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. Mesothelioma patients who receive trimodal therapy (chemotherapy, surgical resection and radiation) survive longer ...than those who receive two or fewer therapy modalities. This study analyses the 2016-2019 Medicare claims data to estimate the burden of malignant mesothelioma and describe therapy patterns (when available) among continuously enrolled fee-for-service (FFS; Medicare parts A and B) beneficiaries.
We analysed claims and enrolment information from 42 529 117 FFS Medicare beneficiaries using three mesothelioma case definitions (broad, intermediate and narrow) with varying levels of diagnostic requirements. Results are presented as ranges of values for the three definitions.
Among FFS beneficiaries, 8213-19 036 beneficiaries with mesothelioma were identified depending on the case definition. The annual prevalence per 100 000 beneficiaries ranged from 8.8 in 2016 (narrow) to 31.3 in 2019 (broad) and annual incidence per 100 000 beneficiaries ranged from 4.5 in 2019 (narrow) to 12.6 in 2017 (broad). Depending on the mesothelioma case definition, 41.8%-81.5% had available therapy claim information indicating that 7.6%-11.3% received chemotherapy alone, 1.3%-1.5% received radiation alone, and 14.3%-27.0% underwent surgery only, with 4.6%-10.5% receiving all three therapy modalities.
Mesothelioma was a prevalent disease among FFS Medicare beneficiaries during 2016-2019, and a limited proportion of beneficiaries received all three therapy modalities. Medicare data build on findings from cancer registry data to enhance our understanding of the mesothelioma burden and therapy patterns.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Workplace exposures are important modifiable contributors to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary ...disease. Among U.S. workers, 19% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases are attributable to workplace exposures. This study examines the trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence during 2012-2018 among workers and assesses the population attributable fraction for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with work by smoking status, industry, and occupation.
The 2012-2018 National Health Interview Survey data for workers aged ≥18 years employed during the 12 months before the interview were analyzed in 2019. Annual trends were examined using the Poisson regression model. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted prevalence ORs.
During 2012-2018, an estimated age-adjusted annual average of 4.1% of workers had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and prevalence varied by industry and occupation. Overall, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence increased by an estimated annual average of 1.5% (p<0.05). The prevalence trends increased significantly among workers in the merchant wholesale nondurable and the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries and among financial specialists; supervisors, other food services workers; supervisors, building grounds workers, and maintenance workers; personal care and services workers; supervisors and office and administrative support workers; and motor-vehicle operators and material moving workers. The proportion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases attributable to work was 27.3% among all workers and 24.0% among never smokers.
Public health efforts to increase the awareness and understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with occupational risk factors are needed to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among workers, especially among those employed in industries and occupations with increasing prevalence trends.
Asthma is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and adults with persistent, severe asthma have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than adults with ...intermittent or no asthma.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association between work-related asthma status and cardiovascular disease among ever-employed adults (aged 18–64 years) with current asthma using data from the 2012–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-Back Survey from 37 states and the District of Columbia. Weighted prevalence ratios and 95% CIs, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, household income, smoking status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and BMI, were calculated. In addition, the associations of cardiovascular disease with adverse asthma outcomes and asthma control among adults with work-related asthma were examined. Analyses were conducted in 2021.
Among an estimated annualized 14.8 million ever-employed adults aged 18–64 years with current asthma, adults with work-related asthma (prevalence ratio=1.5; 95% CI=1.2, 1.8) and possible work-related asthma (prevalence ratio=1.2; 95% CI=1.0, 1.5) were significantly more likely to have cardiovascular disease than adults with non-work-related asthma. Among adults with work-related asthma, those with very poorly controlled asthma (prevalence ratio=1.8; 95% CI=1.3, 2.5) and an asthma-related emergency room visit (prevalence ratio=1.5; 95% CI=1.1, 2.0) were significantly more likely to have cardiovascular disease.
Adults with work-related asthma were more likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with non-work-related asthma. Primary prevention, early diagnosis, and implementation of optimal work-related asthma management are essential for workers’ health. Cardiovascular disease should be considered where appropriate when diagnosing and recommending treatment and interventions for adults with work-related asthma.
Abstract
Extractive industry is an industry where large volumes of waste are generated. Solid waste from mining and quarrying is the second largest stream of waste in European Union. Extractive ...industry and higher education programs related to it such as mining, mineral engineering, raw materials, and applied earth sciences need to put an emphasis on this context and include this concept in the existing curricula and/or create new study programs or short courses that will include circular economy (CE) approach. In 2020 project CIRCEXTIN funded by the Erasmus+ Strategic partnerships Key Action 2 was started. The objective of this project is to create a strategic partnership between Universities and companies developing a comprehensive training platform that will help to modify existing study programmes related to the extractive industry and knowledge of proper waste management incorporating a circular economy approach. This article presents major assumptions and result of the project as of September 2022.
Background Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all asthma patients. Persons with work-related asthma may have more severe disease than those with non–work-related asthma and may ...particularly benefit from receiving influenza vaccination. Purpose To determine if influenza vaccination coverage differs among individuals aged 18–64 years with work-related and non–work-related asthma. Methods Data from the 2006–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-Back Survey collected in 38 states and the District of Columbia were analyzed in 2013. Multivariable logistic regression and predictive marginal analyses were conducted to identify factors independently associated with influenza vaccination among respondents aged 18–64 years with work-related asthma. Results Among adults aged 18–64 years with current asthma, an estimated 42.7% received influenza vaccination in the past 12 months. Although influenza vaccination coverage was significantly higher among adults with work-related asthma than those with non–work-related asthma (48.5% vs 42.8%), this association became non-significant after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics (prevalence ratio=1.08, 95% CI=0.99, 1.20). Among individuals with work-related asthma, receiving the influenza vaccine was associated with being 50–64 years old, being unemployed in the prior year, and seeking urgent treatment for worsening asthma symptoms. Conclusions Among persons with work-related and non–work-related asthma, less than half received influenza vaccination in the prior year, both below the Healthy People 2010 target of 60%. These results suggest the need for strengthening current vaccination interventions to meet the updated Healthy People 2020 objective of achieving at least 70% influenza vaccination coverage.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers in certain industries and occupations. The infection risk for SARS-CoV-2 and future respiratory viruses in the workplace is a significant ...concern for workers, employers, and policymakers. This study describes the differences in COVID-19 mortality by sex and industry/occupation among working-age U.S. residents in 49 states and New York City.
The 2021 National Vital Statistics System public use multiple-cause-of-death data for U.S. decedents aged 15-64 years (working age) with information on usual industry and occupation were analyzed in 2022. Age-standardized COVID-19 death rates for selected demographic characteristics and adjusted proportional mortality ratios were estimated by sex and usual industry and occupation.
In 2021, 133,596 (14.3%) U.S. decedents aged 15-64 years had COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause of death; the highest COVID-19 death rate was among persons aged 55-64 years (172.4 of 100,000 population) and males (65.5 of 100,000 population). Among males and females, American Indian or Alaskan Native and Black or African American, respectively, had the highest death rates. Hispanic males had higher age-adjusted death rates than Hispanic females. Working-age male decedents in the public administration (proportional mortality ratio=1.39) and management of companies and enterprises industries (proportional mortality ratio=1.39) and community and social services occupations (proportional mortality ratio=1.68) and female decedents in the utilities industry (proportional mortality ratio=1.20) and protective services occupation (proportional mortality ratio=1.18) had the highest proportional mortality ratios.
COVID-19 death rates and proportional mortality ratios varied by sex, industry, and occupation groups. These findings underscore the importance of workplace public health interventions, which could protect workers and their communities.
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