Michelle R. Addorisio¹, Carrie A. Redlich, MD, MPH², Meredith Stowe, PhD², Paula Schenck, MPH³, Kanta Sircar, MPH², Kenneth H Dangman, MD PhD MPH³, and Eileen Storey, MD, MPH⁴. (1) University of Connecticut School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, (860) 679-8890, addorisio@student.uchc.edu, (2) Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Yale University, 135 College St., New Haven, CT 06510, (3) Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6210, (4) Center for Indoor Environments and Health/Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6210

Approximately 89 million Americans work in non-industrial environments, of which an estimated 15 million suffer related health effects. The number of patients reporting symptoms associated with indoor environments is continuing to increase. Even though awareness of illnesses related to indoor environments has increased over the last 10 – 15 years, the natural history and its consequences are not known. To address this issue, a retrospective follow-up study was performed on patients diagnosed with an illness or symptoms related to a non-industrial work environment. Patients who presented to the University of Connecticut’s and Yale’s Occupational and Environmental medicine departments between 1997 and 2002 were invited to participate .The goal of this study was to further characterize the natural history of disease and its consequences in relation to personal and workplace risk factors. Personal risk factors include: atopy and past medical history. Workplace factors include: inciting events, types of interventions, time between symptoms event and remediation and workplace restrictions. Approximately 150 patients were interviewed. The most common presenting symptoms included: respiratory symptoms, headaches and fatigue. The prevalent workplaces were schools and office buildings. Patients described the natural history of their illness and relevant factors, host and workplace, that may have impacted their symptoms. The measured outcomes include clinical symptoms, job status and economic status. Interestingly, the majority of patients’ symptoms improved. However, it often took several years with major modifications to lifestyle, work and home environments. Some suffered substantial disability and were unable to return to work.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the impact that host and workplace factors can have on an individual's clinical status, job status and economic status
• Identify personal and workplace risk factors that may contribute to disease
• Develop an understanding, from the patient's perspective, of the natural history of illness related to the non-industrial environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.