Abstract：
BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify the epidemiological and occupational characteristics of patients with occupational asthma (OA) and to assess their clinical evolution and occupational outcomes.
METHODS: We carried out a descriptive epidemiological study over a period of five years (from 2012 to 2016) about the OA cases in the private sector reported in the Tunisian region of Zaghouan.
RESULTS: All in all, 165 OA cases were reported during the study period, representing an annual incidence of 733.3 cases per 1,000,000 workers in the private sector. Our study population was composed predominantly (85.5%) of women, whose mean age was 41.5±6.8years. More than three quarters of the affected persons were working in the automobile industry, and most illnesses (77%) were attributable to isocyanates. The mean time to onset of the respiratory symptoms was longer for low molecular weight agents (13.6±3.1years) compared to high molecular weight agents (12.0±3.9years) (P=0.0006). The majority of OA cases (66.7%) lost their jobs. Job loss was significantly more frequent among asthmatic women and workers with OA due to isocyanates. Among the 62 cases of OA for whom risk factors were eliminated, 45 nonetheless remained symptomatic.
CONCLUSIONS: Effective prevention strategies involving the various actors need to be implemented in work environments so as to reduce the frequency and the medico-legal repercussions of a disabling condition.
METHODS: We carried out a descriptive epidemiological study over a period of five years (from 2012 to 2016) about the OA cases in the private sector reported in the Tunisian region of Zaghouan.
RESULTS: All in all, 165 OA cases were reported during the study period, representing an annual incidence of 733.3 cases per 1,000,000 workers in the private sector. Our study population was composed predominantly (85.5%) of women, whose mean age was 41.5±6.8years. More than three quarters of the affected persons were working in the automobile industry, and most illnesses (77%) were attributable to isocyanates. The mean time to onset of the respiratory symptoms was longer for low molecular weight agents (13.6±3.1years) compared to high molecular weight agents (12.0±3.9years) (P=0.0006). The majority of OA cases (66.7%) lost their jobs. Job loss was significantly more frequent among asthmatic women and workers with OA due to isocyanates. Among the 62 cases of OA for whom risk factors were eliminated, 45 nonetheless remained symptomatic.
CONCLUSIONS: Effective prevention strategies involving the various actors need to be implemented in work environments so as to reduce the frequency and the medico-legal repercussions of a disabling condition.
摘要：
背景：本研究旨在确定职业性哮喘（OA）患者的流行病学和职业特征，并评估其临床演变和职业结局。
方法：我们进行了为期五年（从2012年到2016年）的描述性流行病学研究，研究了突尼斯Zaghouan地区私营部门报告的OA病例。
结果：总而言之，研究期间报告了165例OA病例，代表私营部门每100万名工人的年发病率为733.3例。我们的研究人群主要由女性组成（85.5％），平均年龄为41.5±6.8岁。超过四分之三的受影响人士在汽车行业工作,大多数疾病(77%)归因于异氰酸酯。与高分子量药物（12.0±3.9年）相比，低分子量药物（13.6±3.1年）出现呼吸道症状的平均时间更长（P=0.0006）。大多数OA病例（66.7％）失去了工作。由于异氰酸酯，哮喘妇女和患有OA的工人的失业频率明显更高。在排除危险因素的62例OA中，45仍然有症状。
结论：需要在工作环境中实施涉及各种行为者的有效预防策略，以减少致残疾病的频率和法律影响。
方法：我们进行了为期五年（从2012年到2016年）的描述性流行病学研究，研究了突尼斯Zaghouan地区私营部门报告的OA病例。
结果：总而言之，研究期间报告了165例OA病例，代表私营部门每100万名工人的年发病率为733.3例。我们的研究人群主要由女性组成（85.5％），平均年龄为41.5±6.8岁。超过四分之三的受影响人士在汽车行业工作,大多数疾病(77%)归因于异氰酸酯。与高分子量药物（12.0±3.9年）相比，低分子量药物（13.6±3.1年）出现呼吸道症状的平均时间更长（P=0.0006）。大多数OA病例（66.7％）失去了工作。由于异氰酸酯，哮喘妇女和患有OA的工人的失业频率明显更高。在排除危险因素的62例OA中，45仍然有症状。
结论：需要在工作环境中实施涉及各种行为者的有效预防策略，以减少致残疾病的频率和法律影响。
