Docs warned on high work asthma rates

Doctors are being advised to explore the potential job-related causes of asthma when diagnosing patients. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) says an estimated one in six cases of asthma in people of working age is either caused or aggravated by work-related factors. New RCP guidance advises hospital doctors to question patients with respiratory problems about their job, the materials they work with and whether their symptoms improve when they are away from work. Dr Paul Nicholson, lead author of the guidance, said: 'Highlighting the prevalence of occupational asthma is absolutely key, as too often work-related factors are overlooked leading to unnecessary delays in proper investigation and management. When a patient displays signs of asthma, doctors should be enquiring about the patient's job, the materials they work with, and whether their symptoms improve regularly when away from work.' The guidance, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, recommends that doctors seek consent from sufferers to communicate with the employer and advise them of the diagnosis and of the need to protect the patient from further exposure. The medical profession is belatedly catching up with unions, which long ago recognised the real extent of occupational asthma. 'Asthma at work', a 1995 report from the TUC, concluded 1 in 5 adult asthma cases were work-related and called for urgent preventive action. At the time, this was dramatically higher than official estimates. Since then, however, reports have indicated the TUC figure was the most accurate around (Risks 507).

RCP news release and report, Concise guidance: diagnosis, management and prevention of occupational asthma.