1 Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Research Centre, Centre Intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord de l'Ile (CIUSSS-NIM)-Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (Drs Lavoie, Favreau, Paine, Joseph, Ms Gagnon-Chauvin, Dr Bacon); Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) (Drs Lavoie, Favreau, Ms Gagnon-Chauvin); Research Centre, Centre Intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord de l'Ile (CIUSSS-NIM) - Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (Drs Cartier, Lemière); and Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Drs Paine, Bacon).

Prospective Impact of Psychiatric Disorders on Employment Status and Health Care Use in Patients Investigated for Occupational Asthma.

J Occup Environ Med. 2016 12;58(12):1196-1201

Authors: Lavoie KL, Favreau H, Paine NJ, Lemière C, Joseph M, Gagnon-Chauvin A, Cartier A, Bacon SL

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported high rates (34%) of psychiatric disorders (PSY) in patients evaluated for occupational asthma (OA). We determined the impact of PSY on employment status and health care use 12 to 18 months later.

METHODS: One hundred ninety-six patients underwent clinical and psychiatric interviews on the day of their OA evaluation. Patients were re-contacted 12to 18 months later to assess employment status and health care use.

RESULTS: Results indicated that patients with a PSY at baseline were less likely to be employed (adjusted odds ratio?=?2.88; 95% confidence interval?=?1.29 to 6.44) irrespective of final medical diagnosis (including OA), and had higher rates of emergency visits (35% vs 19%, P?=?0.04).

CONCLUSION: Psychiatric morbidity is common in this population and associated with lower employment rates and greater use of emergency services. Greater efforts should be made to assess and treat PSY in this population.

PMID: 27930478 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]