Abstract

Introduction: Poor symptom control and physical and mental co-morbidities are associated with absenteeism and loss of productivity in severe asthma (SA); however the burden and impact of inhaled exposures at work are unknown. We hypothesized that inhaled exposures to asthmagens could be independently associated with poor asthma control in SA. Methods: We analysed records from n=1,042 patients in the Birmingham Regional SA service database, UK, collecting existing baseline data on occupation, demographics, diagnostic tests and asthma control (Figure). Data were grouped by asthma control questionnaire score (ACQ7? or >1.5), summarised, and univariate and multivariate binary and multinomial regression analyses undertaken. A job-exposure matrix was used to characterise exposure to irritants and/or sensitizers. Results: 548 (53%) patients were employed at baseline, and occupation was given in 504/548 (92%); frequently reported occupations were care assistance (7%), adult nursing (6%), office work (5%), and teaching (5%). 149/504 (30%) were exposed to low- or high-molecular weight sensitizers, 192/504 (38%) to irritants, and 144/504 (29%) to cleaning products/disinfectants; any asthmagen=197/504 (39%). Conclusion: There were no significant associations between ACQ7 score (as either binary outcome or tertiles) and inhaled exposures to asthmagens on univariate and multivariate regression analyses.