Reference

BOHRF Original Authors' Main Conclusions

The original authors' main conclusions are taken from Abstract, Results and Discussion. They are decided upon by the authors of the BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines and form part of the guidelines.

No difference in peak exposures between cases and referents was found, but time weighted average exposures at the time of onset for asthma were higher for cases. The odds of occupational asthma for those for whom estimated exposure to isocyanates was greater than the median concentration for the control group was 3.2 times the odds for those exposed to lower concentrations. Occupational asthma was associated with a pre-employment history of "atopic illness" (odds ratio 3.5).

The following comments are from the editors of the BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines and form part of the guidelines.

Methods of confirming diagnoses were not consistent between two plants and between patients - varied from history alone to specific IgE to 4x daily PEFR. Not best methodology for recording peak i.e. used personal monitors. Asthma, hayfever and eczema were used to indicate atopy. Measured peak exposures were 15-20 minute peaks rather than true peaks

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

The BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines state that this reference is associated with the following evidence statements