2023-08-24 08:00:46
Asthma affects more than 4 million people in France according to Santé Publique France, with an increasing prevalence, particularly among children. A chronic disease mainly diagnosed in children, asthma accompanies the patient throughout childhood, adolescence and then into adulthood. What regarding its impact on the career path? This question was the subject of a study, recently published by Public Health France. Results.
Asthma and career path
Public Health France conducted a study on the links between a chronic respiratory pathology, asthma et professional itinerary asthmatic patients. Already, several scientific works had shown the unfavorable impact of asthma on professional life: regular work stoppages, loss of employment, reclassification of patients in non-exposed positions, etc. This new study focused on data from 33,996 people, including 52.3% women, from the CONSTANCES 2013-2014 cohort.
Among all study participants, the prevalence of asthma was 8.4% in men and 10.3% in women, respectively. Women on average had more severe symptoms than men. Two indicators of asthma were considered in this study:
- Current asthma;
- The asthma symptom score.
Asthma, unfavorable to employment
At the same time, several employment and career indicators were taken into account:
- The number of jobs held;
- The number of part-time jobs;
- The total duration of the periods of employment;
- The number of periods of interruption of activity related to unemployment or health;
- Current employment status (currently employed or unemployed).
From the collected and analyzed data, it is possible to highlight an unfavorable impact of asthma on the professional career of patients, men or women. Three main points stand out:
- Asthmatic patients change jobs more often than people with good respiratory health;
- The durations of periods of activity are shorter in asthmatic subjects;
- Health-related periods of activity interruption are more frequent in subjects with asthma.
Asthma according to sectors of professional activity
Asthma would be a real obstacle to employment and therefore to a professional career. For further, Public Health France now wishes to assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, but also COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) according to professional activity sectors and professions. Are certain professional branches “closed” to asthmatics? they spontaneously move into professions where they are less exposed?Questions to which this future study might provide answers.
In the meantime, preventive actions play an essential role in keeping people with asthma in employment and promoting their return to work. Asthma control and crisis prevention are essential to reduce the impact of this chronic disease on quality of life, and therefore on professional and social development! Everything must be done to help patients combine asthma and employment as well as possible.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
– Impact of asthma on the professional itinerary in France: analysis of data from the Constances cohort. www.santepubliquefrance.fr. Consulted on 1is August 2023.
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