Journals / Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care / 2026 / Volume: 6 Issue: 3

Evaluation of demographic characteristics and non-occupational exposures in occupational asthma: a single center experience

Mesleksel astımda demografik özelliklerin ve mesleksel olmayan maruziyetlerin değerlendirilmesi: tek merkez deneyimi

Bilge Akgündüz(ESKİŞEHİR ŞEHİR HASTANESİ, İŞ VE MESLEK HASTALIKLARI KLİNİĞİ)0000-0002-9398-5173
Muhittin Akarsu(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, ANKARA FACULTY OF MEDICINE)0000-0001-7769-2592
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-06-18
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

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.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis: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).
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: A total of 114 patients with suspected work-related asthma were evaluated, and 82 asthma-diagnosed patients were included in the study.
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Conclusion & Impact: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.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Non-occupational exposures · sector · occupational asthma

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.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışma, mesleksel astım (MA) ve mesleksel olmayan astım (MOA) tanısı alan hastaların demografik özellikleri, mesleki ve mesleki olmayan maruziyetleri (MOM) açısından farklılık gösterip göstermediğini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntemler: İşle ilgili astım şüphesiyle başvuran 114 olgu değerlendirildi. Astım tanısı alan 82 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Bulgular: 29 (%35,4) olgu MA tanısı aldı. Astım hastalarının 72’si (%87,8) düşük moleküler ağırlıklı ajanlara maruz kalmıştı. En yaygın sektör seramik sektörüydü (MA Grubu n:6 (%7,3); MOA Grubu n:6 (%7,3)). MOA grubunda astıma neden olabilecek ajanlara MOM daha yaygındı. Evde kafes kuşu besleme (MA Grubu n:4 (%4,9); MOA Grubu n:12 (%14,6)) ve evde nem veya rutubet bulunma öyküsü (MA Grubu n:3 (%3,7); MOA Grubu n:7 (%8,5)) daha sık görüldü. COVID-19 geçiren MA hastalarında astım semptomlarının başlangıç süresi ile FEV1 ve FEV1/FVC oranı arasında negatif korelasyon saptandı. İmmünolojik astımı olan MA hastalarında toplam IgE düzeyi, immünolojik astımı olan MOA hastalarına göre anlamlı derecede yüksekti. MOM maruziyeti olan MA hastalarında FEV1 düzeyi, MOM maruziyeti olmayanlara göre 1,33 kat daha yüksekti. Sonuç: MA olgularında astıma neden olabilecek MOM, mesleksel maruziyetlerle birlikte bulunabilir. Çevresel, kapalı alan ve bireysel risk faktörlerinin yanı sıra, COVID-19 geçirilme öyküsünün de mesleksel maruziyetlerle birlikte sorgulanması, hastalığa neden olan ajanların doğru bir şekilde belirlenmesini ve hastalığın, etkenin ortadan kaldırılmasıyla daha kolay kontrol edilmesini sağlayabilir.

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Cite This Article

Akgündüz, B., Akarsu, M. (2025). Evaluation of demographic characteristics and non-occupational exposures in occupational asthma: a single center experience. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, Volume: 6 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1649428

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