Surveillance of chronic respiratory diseases among workers enrolled in the general social security system. Prevalence rates and high-risk industries and occupations based on enrollment data from the Constances Cohort
Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have a major impact in terms of morbidity and mortality. They result from multiple causes, including occupational exposures, which are estimated to account for approximately 15% of cases in adults for each of these conditions. This study estimated the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, chronic cough or sputum production, rhinitis) by industry sector and occupation. The prevalence of current asthma and rhinitis was higher among women than among men (respectively, 9.7% vs. 8.5% and 36.3% vs. 32.8%), whereas the prevalence of chronic cough or sputum production was higher among men than among women (11.6% vs. 8.7%). Increased risks of asthma were observed in the sectors "Accommodation and Food Services," "Publishing, Audiovisual, and Broadcasting," and "Medical-Social and Social Accommodation and Social Work Without Accommodation" (among both men and women). For chronic cough or sputum production, increased risks were observed in the sectors "Construction," "Transportation and Warehousing," "Computer and Information Services," "Real estate activities," "Administrative and support service activities," exclusively among men, and in numerous occupations, among both men and women. Increased risks of rhinitis were also observed among men in research sectors and occupations. Certain sectors or occupations did not appear to be at risk in our study, even though they had been identified as such in previous publications: woodworking for chronic bronchitis and asthma, the food industry and teaching for asthma, the textile industry for chronic cough or sputum production, and cleaning agents and food industry workers for rhinitis. Better characterizing occupational exposures linked to high-risk sectors and occupations would enable the implementation or strengthening of preventive measures aimed at eliminating or reducing these exposures. It is important to detect respiratory disease early to ensure appropriate management.
Author(s): Provost Dorothée, Delmas Marie-Christine, Pilorget Corinne, Houot Marie, Bénézet Laetitia, Chesneau Julie, Ribet Céline, Goldberg Marcel, Dumas Orianne, Le Moual Nicole, Iwatsubo Yuriko
Publishing year: 2025
Pages: 20 p.
Collection: Monitoring data
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