Table 2

Clinical characteristics and occupations of patients with irritant-induced occupational asthma diagnosed at Finnish Institute of Occupational Health between 2000 and 2018

CharacteristicsAcute
N=30
Subacute
N=39
All
N=69
P value
Age, mean (SD)45.1 (8)47.0 (12)46.2 (10)0.436
Men25 (83)33 (85)58 (84)0.570
Smoking:0.061
 Current5 (17)9 (23)14 (20)
 Ex10 (33)4 (10)14 (20)
 Non15 (50)26 (67)41 (59)
Occupational groups*
 Stationary plant and machine operators4 (13)19 (49)23 (33)0.002
 Metal, machinery and related trade workers7 (23)4 (10)11 (16)0.190
 Building and related trade workers (excluding electricians)4 (13)4 (10)8 (12)0.720
 Drivers and mobile plant operators2 (7)3 (8)5 (7)1.000
 Science and engineering-associated professions2 (7)3 (8)5 (7)1.000
 Market-oriented skilled agricultural workers1 (3)3 (8)4 (6)0.627
 Electrical and electronics trade workers3 (10)0 (0)3 (4)-†
 Production and specialised services managers0 (0)2 (5)2 (3)
 Cleaners and helpers2 (7)0 (0)2 (3)
 Others‡5 (17)1 (3)6 (9)
  • The data are presented as numbers (%), if not otherwise stated. P values were calculated using independent variables t-test for age, χ2 test for the distribution of smoking status, and Fisher’s exact test for other classified variables. Each occupational group was compared with all other occupational groups.

  • *Classified by International Standard Classification of Occupations on two-digit level. P value is calculated for distribution of occupational classes.

  • †P values missing due to low number of cases.

  • ‡Only one case per occupation group.