Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments
OBJECTIVE: Long-term outcomes of asthma related to exposure to workplace dampness are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy workplaces and characterize factors influencing QOL. METHODS: Using a questionnaire,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3289
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| _version_ | 1818328671797116928 |
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| author | Kirsi Karvala Jukka Uitti Ritva Luukkonen Henrik Nordman |
| author_facet | Kirsi Karvala Jukka Uitti Ritva Luukkonen Henrik Nordman |
| author_sort | Kirsi Karvala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: Long-term outcomes of asthma related to exposure to workplace dampness are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy workplaces and characterize factors influencing QOL. METHODS: Using a questionnaire, we followed 1267 patients previously examined for suspected occupational respiratory disease related to exposure to damp and moldy indoor environments. In addition to demographic and other background data, the questionnaire included sections on current employment status, QOL, anxiety and depression, somatization, hypochondria, and asthma medication. We compared the QOL of patients with occupational asthma (OA) with that of patients with work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) or symptoms without asthma. RESULTS: Impaired QOL was found among patients diagnosed with OA when they were compared with patients in corresponding environments with WEA or symptoms only. Not working and greater use of asthma medication were major determinants of worse QOL. Psychological factors did not explain the differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: OA induced by exposure to workplace moisture and molds is associated with QOL deterioration. The impairment is related to being unemployed (due to disability, retirement, job loss or other reasons) and the need for medication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:35:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f962341b1b5485696e0f43a49cfe121 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:35:53Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f962341b1b5485696e0f43a49cfe1212022-12-21T23:45:52ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2013-01-013919610510.5271/sjweh.32893289Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environmentsKirsi Karvala0Jukka UittiRitva LuukkonenHenrik NordmanFinnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.OBJECTIVE: Long-term outcomes of asthma related to exposure to workplace dampness are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy workplaces and characterize factors influencing QOL. METHODS: Using a questionnaire, we followed 1267 patients previously examined for suspected occupational respiratory disease related to exposure to damp and moldy indoor environments. In addition to demographic and other background data, the questionnaire included sections on current employment status, QOL, anxiety and depression, somatization, hypochondria, and asthma medication. We compared the QOL of patients with occupational asthma (OA) with that of patients with work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) or symptoms without asthma. RESULTS: Impaired QOL was found among patients diagnosed with OA when they were compared with patients in corresponding environments with WEA or symptoms only. Not working and greater use of asthma medication were major determinants of worse QOL. Psychological factors did not explain the differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: OA induced by exposure to workplace moisture and molds is associated with QOL deterioration. The impairment is related to being unemployed (due to disability, retirement, job loss or other reasons) and the need for medication. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3289 dampnessoccupational exposuredampmoldy environmentmoldy work environmentdamp work environmentoccupational exposurework-exacerbated asthmaexposureasthmamoldoccupational asthmaanxietydepressionsomatizationquality of lifework environment |
| spellingShingle | Kirsi Karvala Jukka Uitti Ritva Luukkonen Henrik Nordman Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health dampness occupational exposure damp moldy environment moldy work environment damp work environment occupational exposure work-exacerbated asthma exposure asthma mold occupational asthma anxiety depression somatization quality of life work environment |
| title | Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| title_full | Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| title_fullStr | Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| title_short | Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| title_sort | quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments |
| topic | dampness occupational exposure damp moldy environment moldy work environment damp work environment occupational exposure work-exacerbated asthma exposure asthma mold occupational asthma anxiety depression somatization quality of life work environment |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3289
|
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