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Asthma surveillance
  1. D. Heederik,
  2. E. Suarthana,
  3. E. Meijer
  1. IRAS University Utrecht
    1. N. M. Cherry1,
    2. J. Beach1,
    3. I. Burstyn1,
    4. N. Kapur1,
    5. S. M. Kennedy2
    1. 1University of Alberta
    2. 2University of British Columbia

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        008 DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTRY-WIDE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AMONG BAKERS: APPLICATION OF A DIAGNOSTIC MODEL FOR SENSITISATION TO WHEAT AND AMYLASE ALLERGENS

        Objectives:

        In The Netherlands the baking and flour producing industries (3000 small bakeries, 80 industrial bakeries and 50 flour manufactures) agreed to reduce the high rate (up to 30%) of occupational related allergic diseases.

        Methods:

        Health surveillance for early detection of occupational allergic diseases is ongoing. In the preparation phase, a diagnostic model for sensitisation to wheat and fungal α-amylase allergens was developed and validated. The model was converted into a score chart and two cut-off points of the sum scores were selected for screening purposes. In the first phase, a questionnaire including the diagnostic predictors from the model was distributed to 8480 bakers. Surveillance simulation was done in 4843 bakers who returned the questionnaire. Bakers with high and medium sum scores will be referred to specialised occupational clinics and occupational physicians, respectively, for advanced medical examination. Bakers with low scores will be enrolled in the next health surveillance.

        Results:

        Application of the diagnostic questionnaire model yielded 57.4%, 23.9% and 18.8% bakers in the low, medium and high scores groups. Workers with high scores showed the highest percentage of occupational allergic diseases. The first groups of bakers have been referred to a specialised occupational respiratory disease clinic. A validation study among approximately 900 bakers has been undertaken and diagnoses are available for referred workers.

        Conclusion:

        Results from the validation study and the available diagnoses indicate that the simple questionnaire is relatively accurate in distinguishing high risk groups of workers. With proper cut-off points for referral, the diagnostic model could increase the efficiency of the health surveillance for occupational allergic diseases and lead to relatively accurate decision making.

        Key words:

        occupational asthma; surveillance; sensitisation

        009 NEW ONSET ADULT ASTHMA (NOAA) IN ALBERTA WORKERS

        Objectives:

        To explore patterns of new onset adult asthma by linking routinely collected data sets and to evaluate the potential for detecting occupational aetiology.

        Methods:

        All Alberta Workers Compensation Board (WCB) records for 10 years …

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