Occupational Asthma Compensation | Medical Algorithm

Description

A system for awarding compensation to a worker with occupational asthma was established in Quebec in 1984.

The worker should be evaluated with the occupational asthma under reasonable control, evaluated 2 or more years after exposure to the causative agent has stopped (in order to determine permanent disability).

Parameters:

(1) level of bronchial obstruction based on FEV1 (or FEV1/FVC) as percent of predicted

(2) level of bronchial responsiveness based on the PC20

(3) need for bronchodilator medication

(4) use of inhaled corticosteroids

(5) use of oral corticosteroids

FEV1 as percent of predicted	Level of Bronchial Obstruction
> 85%	0
71 to 85%	1
56 to 70%	2
40 to 55%	3
< 40%	4

where:

• Testing for FEV1 should be done >= 8 hours after inhaled beta-2 adrenergic agent or >= 48 hours after oral theophylline.

PC20	Level of Bronchial Responsiveness
> 16 mg per mL	0
2.01 to 16 mg per mL	1
0.25 to 2 mg per mL	2
< 0.25 mg per mL	3

Level Obstruction	Level Responsiveness	Need for Bronchodilators	Class
0	0	none	1
0	1	none	2A
0	1	as needed	2B
0	1	regular	2C
0	2	none	2D
0	2	any	2E
0	3	any	2F
1	1	any	3A
1	2	any	3B
1	3	any	3C
2	1 or 2	any	4A
2	3	any	4B
3	1 or 2	any	5A
3	3	any	5B
4	any	any	6

Class	Percent Disability
1	0
2A	5
2B	8
2C	10
2D	10
2E	13
2F	15
3A	18
3B	20
3C	25
4A	28
4B	33
5A	50
5B	60
6	100

Need for Corticosteroids	Additional Percent Disability
none	0%
inhaled	3%
oral	10%

percent total disability =

= MIN(100,(percent based on Class) + (percent for corticosteroids))

Interpretation:

• minimum disability: 0 percent

• maximum disability: 100%

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Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10

Occupational Asthma - Quebec System of Compensation

Purpose: To determine disability associated with occupation asthma using the Quebec criteria.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10