Spring pollen season is finally in full swing! Panasonic announces "Survey on hay fever among working people"-Economic loss due to reduced labor force due to hay fever is "approximately 221.5 billion yen" per day-

Panasonic Corporation is targeting 1,324 working adults*1 who answered that they have hay fever between the ages of 20 and 60 in preparation for the spring pollen season, which is about to get into full swing. conducted a survey on hay fever.

As a result of this survey, about8% of the respondents who are working people suffering from hay fever have symptoms of hay fever< u>work performance per"about221.5 billion yen" . On the other hand, only 39.6% of people take measures before the pollen season, and after the onset of hay feverthe majority of people start taking measures against pollen. became. In addition, it was found that a high proportion of people wished to take paid leave or work from home during the pollen season as more flexible working styles are being promoted, such as remote work and work style reforms. Based on the results of this survey, Comprehensive Information SiteAll About"Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases" Guide Mr. Hideaki Sakata of (otolaryngologist) >Introduction and All AboutSleep Guide Satoshi Tsubota(Physician/Sleep Specialist)Relationship Between Hay Fever and Sleep I'll explain about .

■□■Points of survey results■□■ ①The amount of economic loss due to a decrease in the labor force due to hay fever is "about 221.5 billion yen" per day. About 80% of respondents answered that hay fever affects their work performance. (2) Many working people with hay fever start taking measures after the pollen season begins and symptoms appear. About half of those with severe hay fever answered that they would pay 10,000 yen or more per year for pollen countermeasures. The top pollen countermeasures are “masks”, “eye drops”, and “use of air purifiers”. The measures we want to introduce are "sublingual treatment", "air purifier", "cleaning the air conditioner" and "humidifier". 3. Approximately 60% of people wish to take paid leave or work from home when pollen is scattered... Approximately 70% of business people have experienced conversations such as "Do you have hay fever?" , answered that they felt a sense of familiarity and goodwill. ■Economic loss due to reduced labor force due to hay fever is "approximately 221.5 billion yen" per day. About 80% of respondents answered that hay fever affects their work performance. When we asked working people with hay fever whether their symptoms affected their work conditions, 79.0% answered that they had an impact. [Fig. 1] In addition, the average time during the day when work performance was felt to be declining due to hay fever was about 2.8 hours [Fig. 2]. The economic loss due to the reduced labor force of working people with hay fever, calculated based on the average time of labor force reduction due to hay fever, was estimated to be "approximately 221.5 billion yen * 2" per day.

[Figure 1] Do you think the symptoms of hay fever affect your condition (N = 1324)

[Fig. 2] About the amount of time that you feel a decline in work performance due to the effects of hay fever (N = 893) Answers exceeding 8 hours are counted as 8 hours.

"Runny nose (37.0%)", "Nasal congestion (20.0%)", and "Sneezing (13.3%)" ranked among the top pollen symptoms that most affected work performance. From the symptoms, it can be inferred that there are many working people who feel that their work performance is declining [Figure 3].

[Figure 3] Pollen symptoms that most affect work performance (N = 1046)

■ Many working people with hay fever start taking measures after the hay fever season begins and symptoms appear. About half of those with severe hay fever answered that they would pay 10,000 yen or more per year for pollen countermeasures. The top pollen countermeasures are “masks”, “eye drops”, and “use of air purifiers”. The measures we want to introduce are "sublingual treatment", "use of an air purifier", "cleaning the air conditioner" and "humidifier". When asked about the spring pollen countermeasure plan, 51.0% of the respondents planned to do so every year, followed by 31.6% "after symptoms appeared" and 10.3% "no countermeasures". When we asked the 653 people who answered that they would take measures systematically when they started, they said the spring pollen season will begin in earnestFebruary< u>～AprilThe number of people who started taking countermeasures60.4%was 2 Only 39.6% of the respondents answered that they had been taking measures against hay fever before the month. Based on the above results, many working people with hay fever are taking measures after the hay fever season, and after the symptoms appear. u> is inferred. [Figures 4 and 5]

[Figure 4] Timing to start pollen countermeasures in spring (N=1324)

[Figure 5] Regarding the start time of people who systematically take measures against pollen (N = 653)

In addition, when asked about the cost of pollen countermeasures by the severity of hay fever, the percentage of respondents who answered less than 5,000 yen was high in all of the mild, moderate, and severe cases. About half of the respondents(44.0%) answered "10,000 yen or more", and the percentage of people spending "100,000 yen or more" also5.7%, and the results showed a large difference in the cost of pollen countermeasures and treatment depending on the severity of the pollen.

[Figure 6] Total annual costs for pollen control and treatment [by severity] (N = 1324 [breakdown] severe: N = 193, moderate: N = 612, mild: N = 519)

In addition, the most common pollinosis countermeasures actually implemented were "wearing a mask (70.4%)", followed by "eye drops (54.2%)", "use of an air purifier (35.6%)", " Remove pollen from clothes before entering home (23.9%) and use a humidifier (22.1%). From these results, in addition to measures such as masks and eye drops, which are known as general countermeasures against pollen, indoorpollen floating in the aircountermeasures< u> is also widely recognized, and it seems that it is becoming a common countermeasure. [Figure 7] Next, when asked what they would like to introduce in the future to strengthen pollen countermeasures, "sublingual treatment (17.8%)" followed by "use of an air purifier (15.2%)", "pollen season Cleaning the air conditioner before treatment (12.6%) and using a humidifier (22.1%) accounted for the top of the list. I was. [Fig. 8]

[Fig. 7] Regarding pollen countermeasures (N = 1261, multiple answer format)

[Figure 8] Pollen measures that have not been implemented so far and would like to introduce in the future (N = 1261, multiple answer format)

■About 60% of people want to take paid leave or work from home when pollen is scattered! Approximately 70% of people in the business scene have experienced the conversation “Do you have hay fever?” Due to recent "work style reforms", the realization of a society where various work styles can be selected, such as the introduction of telecommuting and flextime, is progressing. Therefore, when asked if they would like to take paid leave or work from home when pollen is scattered this time, 62.1% answered that they would. There are many working people who want this. [Fig. 9]

[Fig. 9] Willing to take paid leave or work from home instead of moving when pollen is scattered (n=1324)

In addition, when asked if they had a conversation "Do you have hay fever?" 51.2% of respondents said that they were fond of or liked hay fever. I also found out that it's an iron plate as a >spring icebreakertheme. [Fig. 10 and Fig. 11]

[Fig. 10] Whether or not you have had a conversation with "Do you have hay fever?" at the beginning of the business scene during pollen season (n=1324)

[Fig. 11] About the experience of feeling closeness and good feeling to the other person in the business scene when the other person also had hay fever (n=1324)

In addition, when asked if people with hay fever would be concerned if they wore masks during business negotiations and meetings, about 60% (61.3%) answered "I do not mind." (I don't care: 38.2% + 23.1% I don't care much) On the other hand, about half of the 54.2% of sneezing "I care" (I care: 17.7% + I rather care) : 36.5%). [Figure 12/13]

[Figure 12] Would you mind if someone with hay fever wore a mask during business talks or meetings? (n=1324)

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[Fig. 13] Do you mind if people with hay fever sneeze during business negotiations or meetings? (n=1324)