Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 56(4):425–430, APRIL 2014
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000123
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PMID: 24662951
Issn Print: 1076-2752
Publication Date: April 2014
Poor Asthma Control Among US Workers: Health-Related Quality of Life, Work Impairment, and Health Care Use
Jeffrey Vietri;Kate Burslem;Jun Su;
+ Author Information
From the Health Outcomes Practice (Dr Vietri), Kantar Health, Princeton, NJ; and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Mr Burslem and Dr Su), Ridgefield, Conn.
Abstract
This study examined the impact of asthma control on health-related outcomes among employed US asthma sufferers treated with prescription medicines.Data from the 2011 National Health and Wellness Survey (N = 75,000) were used. The Asthma Control Test, validated measures of health-related quality of life, work productivity and activity impairment, and questions assessing health care use were included.Of the 2026 employed asthma sufferers treated with prescription medicines included, 39.7% had Asthma Control Test scores indicating poorly controlled asthma. After adjusting for covariates, workers with poorly controlled asthma had worse health-related quality of life, work and activity impairment, and more health care use than those with well-controlled asthma.Poorly controlled asthma in employed patients treated with prescription medicines is common, and associated with negative health outcomes. Workers, employers, and payers could all benefit from improvements in asthma control.
