Clinical Findings among Patients with Respiratory Symptoms Related to Moisture Damage Exposure at the Workplace-The SAMDAW Study

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) 2021-08, Vol.9 (9), p.1112
• Main Authors: Nynäs, Pia, Vilpas, Sarkku, Kankare, Elina, Karjalainen, Jussi, Lehtimäki, Lauri, Numminen, Jura, Tikkakoski, Antti, Kleemola, Leenamaija, Uitti, Jukka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airway management; Allergens; Allergies; Asthma; Dyspnea; Mold; Otolaryngology; Patients; Public buildings; Questionnaires; Spirometry
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9091112

Respiratory tract symptoms are associated with workplace moisture damage (MD). The focus of this observational clinical study was patients with workplace MD-associated symptoms, to evaluate the usefulness of different clinical tests in diagnostics in secondary healthcare with a special interest in improving the differential diagnostics between asthma and laryngeal dysfunction. In patients referred because of workplace MD-associated respiratory tract symptoms, we sought to systematically assess a wide variety of clinical findings. New-onset asthma was diagnosed in 30% of the study patients. Laryngeal dysfunction was found in 28% and organic laryngeal changes in 22% of the patients, and these were common among patients both with and without asthma. Most of the patients (85%) reported a runny or stuffy nose, and 11% of them had chronic rhinosinusitis. Atopy was equally as common as in the general population. As laryngeal changes were rather common, we recommend proper differential diagnostics with lung function testing and investigations of the larynx and its functioning, when necessary, in cases of prolonged workplace MD-associated symptoms. Chronic rhinosinusitis among these patients was not uncommon. Based on this study, allergy testing should not play a major role in the examination of these patients.