P-70 Work-related asthma: occupational specificities and fitness to work. (14th March 2023) - Magroun, Imene
Abstract : Introduction: Asthma is a complex disease defined usually as a bronchial hyperreactivity with a chronic inflammatory state of the airways. Environmental or occupational agents (allergens or other) could trigger or even aggravate this pathology. The objective of the study was to describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with work-related asthma. Material and Methods: A descriptive retrospective cross sectional study was carried out including asthmatic patients who have consulted the occupational medicine department in a tunisian hospital between 2016 and 2022. Results: Our study has included 32 patients all diagnosed with asthma. The average age was 44±9 years [30–61]. Sex ratio was 1.1. Family history of atopy was found in 12% of patients and personal atopy in 37% of cases. Symptoms were dyspnea (87%), cough and wheezing (50%). Forty seven percent of asthma was work-induced, 25% work-aggravated and 28% non-work-induced. Work-induced asthma was found in textile sector (30%) and the agri-food industry (13%). Occupational incriminated agents were wheat flour, enzymes, vegetables, textile dusts, isocyanate, latex, cork dust, penicillin and its salts, and asphalt fumes. One patient with occupational asthma was judged to be permanently unfit. One patient with aggravated asthma was judged to be permanently unfit for work and the rest benefited from a workplace adaptation and increased protective measures. Conclusion: Work related asthma affect adults in many activity sectors exposing to vegetable oil, animal allergens or chemical substances. Fitness decision is sometimes equal to dismissal in other terms to an economic, health, social and psychologic burden.