According to an analysis by the CDC, healthcare workers and workers in social assistance industries had the highest reported rates of asthma compared to other occupations. The CDC analysis was based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Asthma Call-back Survey.

Among the five industries with the highest current asthma prevalence, health care and social assistance work was identified in 20 of 21 states. Social assistance jobs include those associated with individual and family services, community food and housing, vocational rehabilitation, and emergency and other relief work.

Mazurek told MedPage Today that it is not clear how much of the occupational- and state-specific asthma identified in the study was caused or exacerbated by workplace exposures.

Read more at www.medpagetoday.com