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Cited by 295Occupational exposure and asthmaAsthma and respiratory diseasesOccupational Health and Global Justice

How much adult asthma can be attributed to occupational factors?

Blanc, Paul D, Toren, Kjell·1999·The American Journal of Medicine
DOI 10.1016/s0002-9343(99)00307-1
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Abstract

Purpose Many occupational factors can cause asthma or reactivate preexisting disease. We carried out a critical review and synthesis of the available literature to estimate the proportion of adult asthma that is attributable to workplace factors.Methods We reviewed published citations from 1966 through May 1999 as well as recent abstracts of studies providing risk estimates for asthma among various occupations. We extracted published attributable risk estimates, derived others from published data, and extrapolated estimates from the incidence rates of occupational asthma. We used a semiquantitative score to rank studies based on their characteristics.Results We obtained 43 attributable risk estimates from 19 different countries: 23 were published estimates, 8 were derived from published data, and 12 were extrapolated from incidence data. The median value for the attributable risk of occupationally associated asthma was 9%(25th to 75th interquartile range: 5% to 19%). The derived estimates (median attributable risk = 25%) were significantly greater than published values (median = 9%, P = 0.002), whereas the extrapolated estimates were significantly lower (median = 5%, P = 0.04). The 12 highest scored studies based on their characteristics yielded a median risk estimate of 15%.Conclusion Occupational factors are associated with about 1 in 10 cases of adult asthma, including new onset disease and reactivation of preexisting asthma.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0002-9343(99)00307-1

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  • This figure is largely derived from populations in high income countries.

    “Of note, this figure can vary widely (from 4 to 58%) (144) and is largely derived from populations in high income countries (144–146).”

    From Epidemiology of Asthma in Children and Adults (2019) · cites this paper as [145]

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Authors
Blanc, P. D., & Toren, K.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Blanc, Paul D
ORCID
Blanc, Paul D
Venue
The American Journal of Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1999-12
Volume
107
Issue
6
Pages
580-587
ISSN
0002-9343 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0002-9343(99)00307-1
OpenAlex
W1965600367
Cited by
295
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 10
FWCI
2.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The American Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k04hl003225-05)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (KO4-HL03225)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational exposure and asthma
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Social Sciences › Health › Occupational Health and Global Justice
Keywords
adult asthma, occupational asthma, attributable risk, workplace factors, occupational risk factors, asthma incidence
MeSH terms
Adult, Asthma, Humans, Middle Aged, Risk, Global Health, Incidence, Occupational Exposure

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