Which factors increase the probability of a favourable prognosis after a diagnosis of occupational asthma?

The likelihood of improvement or resolution of symptoms or of preventing deterioration is greater in workers who have relatively normal lung function at the time of diagnosis.

This statement is in the "Management of a worker with occupational asthma" section of evidence linked statements

Evidence

ChanYeung M, Lam S, Koener S , Clinical features and natural history of occupational asthma due to western red Cedar (Thuja plicata) , Am J Med , 1982 ; 72 : 411-415

ChanYeung M, Maclean L, Paggiaro PL , Follow-up study of 232 patients with occupational asthma caused by western red cedar (Thuja plicata) , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 1987 ; 79 : 792-796

Maghni K, Lemiere C, Ghezzo H et al , Airway inflammation after cessation of exposure to agents causing occupational asthma , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 2004 ; 169 : 367-372

Padoan M, Pozzato V, Simoni M et al , Long-term follow-up of toluene di-isocyanate-induced asthma , Eur Respir J , 2003 ; 21 : 637-640

Park HS, Nahm DH , Prognostic factors for toluene di-isocyanate-induced occupational asthma after removal from exposure , Clin Exp Allergy , 1997 ; 27 : 1145-1150

Rosenberg N, Garnier R, Rousselin X et al , Clinical and socio-professional fate of isocyanate-induced asthma , Clin Allergy , 1987 ; 17 : 55-61

Tarlo SM, Liss G, Corey P et al , A workers' compensation claim population for occupational asthma. Comparison of subgroups , Chest , 1995 ; 107 : 634-641

Principal reccomendations

This statement supports the following principal reccomendations

View the principal reccomendations

Employers and their health and safety personnel should assess exposure in the workplace and enquire of relevant symptoms among the workforce when any one employee develops confirmed occupational rhinitis or occupational asthma and identify opportunities to institute remedial measures to protect other workers.

Employers and their health and safety personnel should inform workers about any causes of occupational asthma in the workplace and the need to report any relevant symptoms as soon as they develop.

Employers and their health and safety personnel should provide regular health surveillance to workers where a risk of occupational asthma is identified. Surveillance should include a respiratory questionnaire enquiring about work-related upper and lower respiratory symptoms, with additional functional and immunological tests, where appropriate.