S108 Outcomes of firefighter applicants with a history of asthma
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Introduction Firefighters work in a ‘safety critical role’ and undergo comprehensive pre-employment screening. Applicants with a history of asthma (often made in childhood) are regularly referred to our specialist occupational lung disease service for additional assessment including measurement of non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness (NSBHR).
No studies have reported the impact of a pre-existing asthma diagnosis on future employment as a firefighter; most have studied current firefighters1 or others in safety critical roles.2 We sought to identify factors associated with a positive NSBHR test amongst UK firefighter applicants, and to link these to symptoms and employment status around one year later.
Methods We reviewed case notes for all firefighter applicants referred between 2005–2019; we defined NSBHR as a fall in FEV1 of at least 20% (provocation concentration (PC)20) following inhalation of <8 mg/ml histamine. Around one year after their initial appointment we contacted them for follow up, including enquiring about their application outcome and current respiratory symptoms.
Results Clinical data were available on 120 applicants of whom 19 (16%) had a positive NSBHR test (see table 1).
Follow-up data were available on 116 applicants. Those with a positive NSBHR test (n=17; 14.7%) were less likely to be accepted into the fire service than those with a negative test (76.5% vs 95.0% respectively, p=0.026). However, of the 4 with a positive NSBHR and not accepted by the fire service, only 2 were due to asthma. Of the 90 serving firefighters at follow-up, only 2 (2.2%) reported any recent trouble with asthma.
No studies have reported the impact of a pre-existing asthma diagnosis on future employment as a firefighter; most have studied current firefighters1 or others in safety critical roles.2 We sought to identify factors associated with a positive NSBHR test amongst UK firefighter applicants, and to link these to symptoms and employment status around one year later.
Methods We reviewed case notes for all firefighter applicants referred between 2005–2019; we defined NSBHR as a fall in FEV1 of at least 20% (provocation concentration (PC)20) following inhalation of <8 mg/ml histamine. Around one year after their initial appointment we contacted them for follow up, including enquiring about their application outcome and current respiratory symptoms.
Results Clinical data were available on 120 applicants of whom 19 (16%) had a positive NSBHR test (see table 1).
Follow-up data were available on 116 applicants. Those with a positive NSBHR test (n=17; 14.7%) were less likely to be accepted into the fire service than those with a negative test (76.5% vs 95.0% respectively, p=0.026). However, of the 4 with a positive NSBHR and not accepted by the fire service, only 2 were due to asthma. Of the 90 serving firefighters at follow-up, only 2 (2.2%) reported any recent trouble with asthma.
Date Issued
2021-02-01
Date Acceptance
2021-01-01
Citation
Thorax, 2021, 76, pp.A65-A66
ISSN
0040-6376
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Start Page
A65
End Page
A66
Journal / Book Title
Thorax
Volume
76
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000721357200110&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Source
British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Respiratory System
TESTS
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2021-11-24
Finish Date
2021-11-26
Coverage Spatial
Online
Date Publish Online
2021-01-21