New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network Report 1988 - 2003

Chapter 2. Patient Characteristics

  • Chapter 2 is also available as an individual Adobe Portable Document (PDF, 959 KB, 11pgs)

Magnitude and Trend of Patient Population

  • Figure 2.1 is available on page 13 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Overall, 45,546 (96%) of patients were seen for occupational exposures. Occupational patients had an exposure from either their present or past occupation. Environmental patients had an exposure from a non-occupational environment which include individuals seen for exposures to such places as landfills, home mold-related problems, and a variety of other exposures. In addition, some patients are family members of workers seen for possible health effects related to take-home exposures.

In general, there is a much higher percent of females (data not shown) among the environmental (58%) and family (86%) patients, compared to the occupational patients (25%).

  • Figure 2.2 is available on page 14 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

County of Residence

Patients were seen from all but one county in NYS, with large percentages residing in counties with large metropolitan areas such as New York City (NYC), Albany, Erie, Monroe and Onondaga counties. There were substantially fewer patients from areas of New York with lower populations such as the Adirondack Park.

  • Figure 2.3 is available on page 14 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Overall, 33,136 (70%) patients resided in New York State, outside of NYC, 11,900 (25%) resided in New York City, and 2,103 (4%) were not residents of NYS. Place of residence was unknown for 68 patients.

  • Figure 2.4 is available on page 15 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Group Screening Patients

Overall, 24,479 (52%) patients were seen in the NYS OHCN as part of a group screening. Among those seen, 7,788 (32%) were part of a respirator certification program, 6,464 (26%) were follow-up for asbestos exposure; and 5,740 (23%) were general occupational health examinations due to an on-the-job exposure. Many of the group screening patients were seen due to potential exposures to hazardous agents including screenings for Lyme Disease, skin cancer, Hepatitis, lead, and hearing. Patients were also screened as part of preplacement and termination examinations.

Sex of Patient Population-Females

Females accounted for 26% (n=12,411) of the patient population. Women made up a higher percentage of the patients seen in New York City (32%) as opposed to NYS outside of NYC (25%). Overall, the percent of patients who were female has remained relatively stable. Ninety-two percent of the females were seen for occupational conditions, while 98% of the males were seen for occupational conditions (data not shown).

  • Figure 2.5 is available on page 15 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Among all of the patients seen in NYS outside of NYC (n=33,136), 5,208 (16%) were symptomatic female patients and 2,993 (9%) were females seen as part of a group screening; 10,688 (32%) were symptomatic male patients, and 14,224 (16%) were males seen as part of a group screening. A greater percentage of women were seen as symptomatic patients in New York City (26%) as opposed to the rest of New York (7%); while a much higher percent of males in New York City were seen as part of a group screening (43%) compared to the percent seen as symptomatic patients (24%).

  • Figure 2.6 is available on page 16 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Age of Patient Population

The mean age of the patients during their first visit to the NYS OHCN was 43 years (data not shown), with over 70% of the patients between 31 and 60 years of age. Almost 1000 patients were under 20 years of age when first seen, and 4,890 patients were over 60 years of age during their first visit to the Clinic.

  • Figure 2.7 is available on page 17 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

As expected, the majority of occupational patients were between 21 and 60 years of age (88%). A slightly higher percent of environmental patients were younger than 20 years of age (6% vs. 2% each of family and occupational patients), and a substantially higher percent of the family patients were 61 years and older (30% vs. 16% environmental and 10% occupational).

  • Figure 2.8 is available on page 17 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Ethnicity of Patient Population

  • Figure 2.9 is available on page 18 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

  • Figure 2.10 is available on page 19 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Source of Payment for Services

  • Figure 2.11 is available on page 20 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Source of Patient Referral

  • Figure 2.12 is available on page 20 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

  • Figure 2.13 is available on page 21 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Occupations of Clinic Patients

  • Figure 2.14 is available on page 21 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

  • Figure 2.15 is available on page 22 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

Industries of Clinic Patients

  • Figure 2.16 is available on page 22 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)

  • Figure 2.17 is available on page 23 of the complete Occupational Health Clinic Report (PDF, 6.77 MB, 110pgs)