Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers with asthma enrolled in the study.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Age, years, mean (SD) | 53 (8) |
| <45 | 54 (14) |
| 45–60 | 260 (69) |
| >60 | 64 (17) |
| Male, No. (%) | 264 (70) |
| Race/Ethnicity, No. (%) | |
| White | 131 (35) |
| Black | 53 (14) |
| Hispanic | 157 (42) |
| Other/refused | 40 (9) |
| Married or living with a partner, No. (%) | 233 (62) |
| English as Primary Language, No. (%) | 281 (77) |
| Education, No. (%) | |
| Did not graduate high school | 38 (10) |
| High School or GED | 64 (17) |
| Some college | 149 (39) |
| College graduate or higher degree | 128 (34) |
| Monthly income, No. (%) | |
| <$3,000 | 206 (54) |
| >$3,000 | 146 (39) |
| Refused/Unknown | 29 (7) |
| Occupation no. (%) | |
| Employed full time | 157 (42) |
| Employed part time | 38 (10) |
| Unemployed | 22 (6) |
| On disability | 47 (12) |
| Retired | 79 (21) |
| Not working | 19 (5) |
| Student/Other | 19 (5) |
| Smoking status no. (%) | |
| Current/former smoker | 112 (31) |
| Never smoked | 253 (69) |
| WTC exposure no. (%) | |
| Low | 56 (15) |
| Intermediate | 156 (42) |
| High | 131 (35) |
| Very high | 30 (8) |
| Asthma onset post 9/11, No. (%) | 282 (74) |
| Sensitized to indoor allergens no. (%) | 186 (56) |
| History of intubation, No. (%) | 12 (3) |
| Hospitalization for asthma in the past year, No. (%) | 16 (4) |
| Emergency room visit for asthma in the past year, No. (%) | 56 (15) |
| Oral corticosteroid use in past 12 months no. (%) | 97 (27) |
| Asthma control no. (%) | |
| Well controlled | 98 (26) |
| Uncontrolled | 99 (26) |
| Very poorly controlled | 183 (48) |
| On asthma controller medication, No. (%) | 245 (66) |
| Comorbiditiesno. (%) | |
| Gastric esophageal reflux disorder | 250 (66) |
| Sinusitis | 237 (63) |
| Major depression | 101 (27) |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder | 96 (25) |
SD: standard deviation; No: Number; WTC: World Trade Center.