Air Pollution/Irritants, Asthma Control, and Health-Related Quality of Life among 9/11-Exposed Individuals with Asthma

Janette Yung, Sukhminder Osahan, Stephen M. Friedman, Jiehui Li and James E. Cone
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Janette Yung: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, NY 10013, USA
Sukhminder Osahan: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, NY 10013, USA
Stephen M. Friedman: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, NY 10013, USA
Jiehui Li: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, NY 10013, USA
James E. Cone: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, NY 10013, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Asthma control is suboptimal among World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) enrollees. Air pollution/irritants have been reported as the most prevalent trigger among World Trade Center responders. We examined the relationship between air pollution/irritants and asthma control. We also evaluated the association of asthma control with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We included 6202 enrollees age ≥18 with a history of asthma who completed the WTCHR asthma survey between 2015 and 2016. Based on modified National Asthma Education and Prevention Program criteria, asthma was categorized as controlled, poorly-controlled, or very poorly-controlled. HRQoL indicators include ≥14 unhealthy days, ≥14 activity limitation days, and self-rated general health. We used multinomial logistic regression for asthma control, and unconditional logistic regression for HRQoL, adjusting for covariates. Overall, 27.1% had poorly-controlled and 32.2% had very poorly-controlled asthma. Air pollution/irritants were associated with poorly-controlled (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.45–1.99) and very poorly-controlled asthma (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.83–2.53). Poor asthma control in turn worsened the HRQoL of asthmatic patients. Very poorly-controlled asthma was significantly associated with ≥14 unhealthy days (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI = 3.02–4.30), ≥14 activity limitation days (AOR = 4.37; 95% CI = 3.48–5.50), and poor/fair general health status (AOR = 4.92; 95% CI = 4.11–5.89). Minimizing World Trade Center (WTC) asthmatic patients’ exposure to air pollution/irritants may improve their disease management and overall well-being.

Keywords: 9/11 disaster; asthma; trigger(s); air pollution; irritant(s); health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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