[Costs of occupational asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Many published data indicate that a relevant proportion of cases of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are caused by occupational exposure. That phenomenon results in many negative economic consequences, including, apart from considerable medical costs, also costs owing to unemployment and claiming for compensation, which are frequent in patients suffering from that illnesses. Hence, it is probable that increasing prevalence of those diseases may result in higher economical costs. The effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention in reduction of costs concerning occupational asthma and COPD has been proved. Only effective prophylaxis may decrease individual and public costs related to both diseases.