CLINICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC FEATURES OF SUBJECTS WITH RED CEDAR ASTHMA- A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

A follow-up study of 128 subjects with red cedar asthma was conducted to evaluate the clinical and socioeconomic impact of the disease in de termining the working status of the subjects after the diagnosis was m ade. The results suggest that the severity of asthma is Dot the main d eterminant of working status. Comparing the data at diagnosis and at f ollow-up examination, we found that the persistence of exposure result ed in a deterioration in the asthma despite the use of more medication s. Subjects who were working were younger and had a larger number of d ependents than the subjects who were Dot working at the time of the fo llow-up examination. We conclude that the socioeconomic factors are im portant in determining the working status of subjects with red cedar a sthma. To prevent severe impairment and disability, there should be mo re economic incentives for these subjects to choose other jobs.