Are we failing workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma?

Abstract

Aims:

To assess the route to secondary care for patients with possible occupational asthma, and to document the duration of work-related symptoms and referral times.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with suspected occupational asthma were recruited to a case series from six secondary care clinics with an interest in occupational asthma. Semi-structured interviews were performed and hospital case notes were reviewed to summarise relevant investigations and diagnosis.

Results:

97 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 44.2 years (range 24–64), 51 of whom (53%) had occupational asthma confirmed as a diagnosis. Most (96%) had consulted their general practitioner (GP) at least once with work-related respiratory symptoms, although these had been present for a mean of 44.6 months (range 0–320 months) on presentation to secondary care. Patients experienced a mean delay for assessment in secondary care of 4 years (range 1–27 years) following presentation in primary care.

Conclusions:

Significant diagnostic delay currently occurs for patients with occupational asthma in the UK.