What Characteristics Are Associated With Having a Work Limitation Among United States Adults With Asthma?
Author(s)
David R. Axon, MS, PhD.
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Asthma can lead to various work limitations, yet there is limited documented evidence of the characteristics associated with work limitations among adults with asthma in the United States (US). This study aimed to explore the characteristics associated with work limitations among adults with asthma in the US.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data and included US adults (≥18 years) with asthma. The dependent variable was having a work limitation. A multivariable logistic model assessed the association between the following characteristics and having a work limitation: age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital, education, employment, income, exercise, smoking, pain, physical health, and mental health statuses. The significance threshold was 0.05.
RESULTS: The analytic sample included 2327 (work limitation n=561, no work limitation n=1766) people. This represented a weighted estimated population of 37,279,732 US adults with asthma (work limitation n=6,111,131, no work limitation n=31,168,600). Characteristics associated with having a work limitation vs. no work limitation in the multivariable logistic regression analysis included: age ≥65 vs. 18-39 years (odds ratio [OR]=2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07, 4.66), age 40-64 vs. 18-39 years (OR=2.23, 95% CI=1.21, 4.10), unmarried vs. married (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.58, 3.45), unemployed vs. employed (OR=5.24, 95% CI=3.17, 8.70), low vs. high income (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.02, 2.58), no regular exercise vs. regular exercise (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.25, 2.98), smoker vs. non-smoker (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.37, 4.53), high vs. little/moderate pain (OR=3.21, 95% CI=2.16, 4.77), fair/poor vs. good overall health (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.52, 3.55), and fair/poor vs. excellent/very good physical health (OR=3.46, 95% CI=1.89, 6.33).
CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics associated with having a work limitation among a nationally representative sample of US adults with asthma in this study offer some perspectives into predicting work limitations among US adults with asthma. Future research with a prospective design is warranted to better establish a causal association.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data and included US adults (≥18 years) with asthma. The dependent variable was having a work limitation. A multivariable logistic model assessed the association between the following characteristics and having a work limitation: age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital, education, employment, income, exercise, smoking, pain, physical health, and mental health statuses. The significance threshold was 0.05.
RESULTS: The analytic sample included 2327 (work limitation n=561, no work limitation n=1766) people. This represented a weighted estimated population of 37,279,732 US adults with asthma (work limitation n=6,111,131, no work limitation n=31,168,600). Characteristics associated with having a work limitation vs. no work limitation in the multivariable logistic regression analysis included: age ≥65 vs. 18-39 years (odds ratio [OR]=2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07, 4.66), age 40-64 vs. 18-39 years (OR=2.23, 95% CI=1.21, 4.10), unmarried vs. married (OR=2.34, 95% CI=1.58, 3.45), unemployed vs. employed (OR=5.24, 95% CI=3.17, 8.70), low vs. high income (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.02, 2.58), no regular exercise vs. regular exercise (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.25, 2.98), smoker vs. non-smoker (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.37, 4.53), high vs. little/moderate pain (OR=3.21, 95% CI=2.16, 4.77), fair/poor vs. good overall health (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.52, 3.55), and fair/poor vs. excellent/very good physical health (OR=3.46, 95% CI=1.89, 6.33).
CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics associated with having a work limitation among a nationally representative sample of US adults with asthma in this study offer some perspectives into predicting work limitations among US adults with asthma. Future research with a prospective design is warranted to better establish a causal association.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH278
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)