Table 2.
Non-WRA | Sensitizer-induced OA |
---|---|
Host Risk Factors | |
Younger age | Younger age |
Female | Female (likely from sex distribution of higher risk exposures) |
Family history of allergy/asthma | Family history of allergy/asthma |
Atopy | Atopy (for high-molecular-weight agents) |
Obesity | Obesity |
Current/previous history of rhinitis or allergy | Current/previous history of work-related rhinitis |
Previous bronchial hyperresponsiveness | Previous bronchial hyperresponsiveness |
Some serious childhood respiratory diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis) | |
Behavioral and Social Factors | |
Active and passive smoking | Active smoking |
Low household income | Low household income likely from association with greater risk of exposure at work to sensitizers |
Environmental Risk Factors | |
Home environmental factors (e.g., fuel combustion, dampness and mold growth, environmental tobacco smoke) | High-molecular-weight or low-molecular-weight sensitizing agents at work |
Exposure to cleaning sprays at home | Cleaning/disinfectant agents at work (likely several mechanisms) |
Air pollution |
Definition of abbreviations: OA = occupational asthma; WRA = work-related asthma.
Similarities are printed in bold. Features that differ or have only been only evaluated for one condition are not bold.
Risk factors for irritant-induced asthma are not included here because they have not been sufficiently identified due to most case series being relatively small. Table reproduced and modified with permission from Reference 17.