JOMPAC
Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care

Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care (JOMPAC) is an open access scientific journal with independent, unbiased, and double-blind review under international guidelines. The purpose of JOMPAC is to contribute to the literature by publishing articles on health sciences and medicine.

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Original Article
Evaluation of demographic characteristics and non-occupational exposures in occupational asthma: a single center experience
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate differences in demographic characteristics, occupational, and non-occupational exposures (NOE) between patients diagnosed with occupational asthma (OA) and non-occupational asthma (NOA).
Methods: A total of 114 patients with suspected work-related asthma were evaluated, and 82 asthma-diagnosed patients were included in the study.
Results: Among the 82 patients, 29 (35.4%) were diagnosed with OA. Seventy-two (87.8%) asthma patients were exposed to low molecular weight agents. The most common sector was ceramics (OA group n: 6 [7.3%]; NOA group n: 6 [7.3%]). The NOA group had a higher likelihood of being exposed to non-occupational agents that could trigger asthma. A higher frequency of pet bird ownership (OA group n: 4 [4.9%]; NOA group n: 12 [14.6%]) and current humidity or moisture exposure at home (OA group n: 3 [3.7%]; NOA group n: 7 [8.5%]) was observed in the NOA group. A negative correlation was found between the duration of asthma symptoms and both FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio in OA patients with a history of COVID-19. Additionally, total IgE levels were significantly higher in immunological asthmatics with OA compared to those with NOA. Among OA patients exposed to NOE, FEV1 levels were 1.33 times higher in those without NOE.
Conclusion: NOE that may cause asthma can coexist with occupational exposures in OA cases. A comprehensive history, including environmental, indoor, and individual risk factors, as well as previous COVID-19 infection, is crucial for accurately identifying multiple asthma-causing agents and improving disease management by eliminating triggers.

Keywords : Non-occupational exposures, sector, occupational asthma, occupational exposures

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1. Akgündüz ÜB. Inhalation challenge tests in occupational asthma: why are multiple tests needed? Turk Thorac J. 2021;22(2):154-162. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2021.20007
2. MacKinnon M, To T, Ramsey C, Lemière C, Lougheed MD. Improving detection of work-related asthma: a review of gaps in awareness, reporting and knowledge translation. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020;16(1):73. doi:10.1186/s13223-020-00470-w
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5. Maestrelli P, Henneberger PK, Tarlo S, Mason P, Boschetto P. Causes and phenotypes of work-related asthma. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(13):4713. doi:10.3390/ijerph17134713
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7. Meca O, Cruz MJ, Sánchez-Ortiz M, González-Barcala FJ, Ojanguren I, Munoz X. Do low molecular weight agents cause more severe asthma than high molecular weight agents? PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0156141. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156141
8. Vandenplas O, Godet J, Hurdubaea L, et al. Are high- and low-molecular-weight sensitizing agents associated with different clinical phenotypes of occupational asthma? Allergy. 2019;74(2):261-272. doi:10. 1111/all.13542
9. Akgündüz B, Pierre S, Saab L, et al. Application of the new asthma-specific job exposure matrix: a study in quebec apprentice cohort exposed to isocyanates. IJCOM. 2022;2(2):83-88. doi:10.53773/ijcom.v2i2.61.83-8
10. Le Moual N, Zock JP, Dumas O, et al. Update of an occupational asthma-specific job exposure matrix to assess exposure to 30 specific agents. Occup Environ Med. 2018;75(7):507-514. doi:10.1136/oemed- 2017-104866
11. Coates AL, Wanger J, Cockcroft DW, et al. ERS technical standard on bronchial challenge testing: general considerations and performance of methacholine challenge tests. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(5):1601526. doi:10. 1183/13993003.01526-2016
12. Vandenplas O, Suojalehto H, Aasen TB, et al. ERS task force on specific inhalation challenges with occupational agents. Specific inhalation challenge in the diagnosis of occupational asthma: consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2014;43(6):1573-1587. doi:10.1183/09031936.00180313
13. Gannon PF, Burge PS. Serial peak expiratory flow measurement in the diagnosis of occupational asthma. Eur Respir J Suppl. 1997;24:57-63.
14. Şimşek C, Akgündüz B, Sarı G. Comparison of specific inhalation challenge test results in occupational and non-occupational asthma patients: is monitoring peak expiratory flow rate sufficient for diagnosis? Int J Pul Res Sci. 2021;5(4):555666. doi:10.1183/13993003.congress-2020. 3171
15. Baur X, Degens PO, Sander I. Baker's asthma: still among the most frequent occupational respiratory disorders. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998;102(6):984-997. doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(98)70337-9
16. Sauvé JF, Friesen MC. Using decision rules to assess occupational exposure in population-based studies. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2019; 6(3):148-159. doi:10.1007/s40572-019-00240-w
17. Dopart PJ, Locke SJ, Cocco P, et al. Estimation of source-specific occupational benzene exposure in a population-based case-control study of non-hodgkin lymphoma. Ann Work Expo Health. 2019;63(8):842-855. doi:10.1093/annweh/wxz063
18. Vandenplas O. Occupational asthma: etiologies and risk factors. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011;3(3):157-167. doi:10.4168/aair.2011.3.3.157
19. Castro-Giner F, Kauffmann F, de Cid R, Kogevinas M. Education: gene-environment interactions in asthma. Occup Environ Med. 2006;63(11): 776-761. doi:10.1136/oem.2004.019216
20. Tarlo SM. Critical aspects of the history of occupational asthma. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2006;2(2):74-77. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-2-2-74
21. Rollins SM, Su FC, Liang X, et al. Workplace indoor environmental quality and asthma-related outcomes in healthcare workers. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63(5):417-428. doi:10.1002/ajim.23101
22. Enomoto T, Sekiya R, Sugimoto H, et al. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by exposure to a gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus). Intern Med. 2022;61(14):2197-2202. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.8679-21
23. Esmaeilzadeh H, Sanaei Dashti A, Mortazavi N, Fatemian H, Vali M. Persistent cough and asthma-like symptoms post COVID-19 hospitalization in children. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22(1):244. doi:10.1186/s12879-022-07252-2
24. Guijon OL, Morphew T, Ehwerhemuepha L, Galant SP. Evaluating the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on asthma morbidity: a comprehensive analysis of potential influencing factors. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2021;127(1):91-99. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2021.03.018
25. Siracusa A, Marabini A, Folletti I, Moscato G. Smoking and occupational asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2006;36(5):577-584. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222. 2006.02486.x
26. Tiotiu AI, Novakova S, Labor M, et al. Progress in occupational asthma. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(12):4553. doi:10.3390/ijerph 17124553
1. Akgündüz ÜB. Inhalation challenge tests in occupational asthma: why are multiple tests needed? Turk Thorac J. 2021;22(2):154-162. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2021.20007
2. MacKinnon M, To T, Ramsey C, Lemière C, Lougheed MD. Improving detection of work-related asthma: a review of gaps in awareness, reporting and knowledge translation. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020;16(1):73. doi:10.1186/s13223-020-00470-w
3. Vandenplas O, Malo JL. Definitions and types of work-related asthma: a nosological approach. Eur Respir J. 2003;21(4):706-712. doi:10.1183/09031936.03.00113303
4. Hoy R, Burdon J, Chen L, et al. Work-related asthma: a position paper from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the National Asthma Council Australia. Respirology. 2020;25(11):1183-1192. doi:10.1111/resp.13951
5. Maestrelli P, Henneberger PK, Tarlo S, Mason P, Boschetto P. Causes and phenotypes of work-related asthma. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(13):4713. doi:10.3390/ijerph17134713
6. Roio LCD, Mizutani RF, Pinto RC, Terra-Filho M, Santos UP. Work-related asthma. J Bras Pneumol. 2021;47(4):e20200577. doi:10.36416/ 1806-3756/e20200577
7. Meca O, Cruz MJ, Sánchez-Ortiz M, González-Barcala FJ, Ojanguren I, Munoz X. Do low molecular weight agents cause more severe asthma than high molecular weight agents? PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0156141. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156141
8. Vandenplas O, Godet J, Hurdubaea L, et al. Are high- and low-molecular-weight sensitizing agents associated with different clinical phenotypes of occupational asthma? Allergy. 2019;74(2):261-272. doi:10. 1111/all.13542
9. Akgündüz B, Pierre S, Saab L, et al. Application of the new asthma-specific job exposure matrix: a study in quebec apprentice cohort exposed to isocyanates. IJCOM. 2022;2(2):83-88. doi:10.53773/ijcom.v2i2.61.83-8
10. Le Moual N, Zock JP, Dumas O, et al. Update of an occupational asthma-specific job exposure matrix to assess exposure to 30 specific agents. Occup Environ Med. 2018;75(7):507-514. doi:10.1136/oemed- 2017-104866
11. Coates AL, Wanger J, Cockcroft DW, et al. ERS technical standard on bronchial challenge testing: general considerations and performance of methacholine challenge tests. Eur Respir J. 2017;49(5):1601526. doi:10. 1183/13993003.01526-2016
12. Vandenplas O, Suojalehto H, Aasen TB, et al. ERS task force on specific inhalation challenges with occupational agents. Specific inhalation challenge in the diagnosis of occupational asthma: consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2014;43(6):1573-1587. doi:10.1183/09031936.00180313
13. Gannon PF, Burge PS. Serial peak expiratory flow measurement in the diagnosis of occupational asthma. Eur Respir J Suppl. 1997;24:57-63.
14. Şimşek C, Akgündüz B, Sarı G. Comparison of specific inhalation challenge test results in occupational and non-occupational asthma patients: is monitoring peak expiratory flow rate sufficient for diagnosis? Int J Pul Res Sci. 2021;5(4):555666. doi:10.1183/13993003.congress-2020. 3171
15. Baur X, Degens PO, Sander I. Baker's asthma: still among the most frequent occupational respiratory disorders. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998;102(6):984-997. doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(98)70337-9
16. Sauvé JF, Friesen MC. Using decision rules to assess occupational exposure in population-based studies. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2019; 6(3):148-159. doi:10.1007/s40572-019-00240-w
17. Dopart PJ, Locke SJ, Cocco P, et al. Estimation of source-specific occupational benzene exposure in a population-based case-control study of non-hodgkin lymphoma. Ann Work Expo Health. 2019;63(8):842-855. doi:10.1093/annweh/wxz063
18. Vandenplas O. Occupational asthma: etiologies and risk factors. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011;3(3):157-167. doi:10.4168/aair.2011.3.3.157
19. Castro-Giner F, Kauffmann F, de Cid R, Kogevinas M. Education: gene-environment interactions in asthma. Occup Environ Med. 2006;63(11): 776-761. doi:10.1136/oem.2004.019216
20. Tarlo SM. Critical aspects of the history of occupational asthma. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2006;2(2):74-77. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-2-2-74
21. Rollins SM, Su FC, Liang X, et al. Workplace indoor environmental quality and asthma-related outcomes in healthcare workers. Am J Ind Med. 2020;63(5):417-428. doi:10.1002/ajim.23101
22. Enomoto T, Sekiya R, Sugimoto H, et al. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by exposure to a gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus). Intern Med. 2022;61(14):2197-2202. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.8679-21
23. Esmaeilzadeh H, Sanaei Dashti A, Mortazavi N, Fatemian H, Vali M. Persistent cough and asthma-like symptoms post COVID-19 hospitalization in children. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22(1):244. doi:10.1186/s12879-022-07252-2
24. Guijon OL, Morphew T, Ehwerhemuepha L, Galant SP. Evaluating the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on asthma morbidity: a comprehensive analysis of potential influencing factors. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2021;127(1):91-99. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2021.03.018
25. Siracusa A, Marabini A, Folletti I, Moscato G. Smoking and occupational asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2006;36(5):577-584. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222. 2006.02486.x
26. Tiotiu AI, Novakova S, Labor M, et al. Progress in occupational asthma. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(12):4553. doi:10.3390/ijerph 17124553
Article available in :
Volume 6, Issue 3, 2025
Page : 177-182
https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1649428
Article Information
Received : 01 Mar 2025
Accepted : 26 Mar 2025
Published : 18 Haz 2025
Corresponding Author :

Bilge Akgündüz: Department of Occupational Diseases, Eskişehir City Hospital, Eskişehir, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Akgündüz B, Akarsu M. Evaluation of demographic characteristics and non-occupational exposures in occupational asthma: a single center experience. J Med Palliat Care. 2025;6(3):177-182. doi:10.47582/jompac.1649428

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