Reference

Ross DJ, Mcdonald JC, Health and employment after a diagnosis of occupational asthma: a descriptive study, Occup Med (London), 1998;48:219-225,

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.

Chest physicians were better able than occupational physicians to follow progress of patients who had left their jobs. Longer exposure both before and after diagnosis was associated with poorer prognosis - patients exposed for year or more after diagnosis recovered from asthma less frequently but were more often employed than those exposed for less than a year. Subjects whose exposure continued only for a few months most often found new employment.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

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

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2+

The likelihood of improvement or resolution of symptoms or of preventing deterioration is greater in workers who have shorter duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis.

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2+

The likelihood of improvement or resolution of symptoms or of preventing deterioration is greater in workers who have shorter duration of symptoms prior to avoidance of exposure.

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2-

Approximately one third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis.