Study looks at asthma and absenteeism

A new study from the American College of Chest Physicians reports that people who actively work to manage their asthma are more likely to have better attendance at work and school.

Children with uncontrolled asthma missed more than six school days in a six-month period compared to just 2.6 missed school days for their healthier peers, the study found. Adults with poorly managed asthma missed almost five days of work versus an average of 1.5 days for their counterparts with well-managed asthma.

"I wasn't surprised to see there was a difference in absenteeism, but I was a little surprised at the magnitude of the difference," said the study's lead author, Dr. David Tinkelman, a professor of pediatrics and vice president for health initiatives at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.