PROTECTING RESPIRATORY HEALTH - PRESERVING YOUR TEAM’S WORK PRODUCTIVITY

The value of a healthcare program is measured not only by the number of employees who attend checkups, but also by how well the program addresses the real needs of the workforce. When respiratory problems are not identified in time, businesses may face sick leave, declining performance and unplanned medical expenses. 
Join CarePlus in exploring solutions that help businesses proactively protect their team’s respiratory health in the newsletter below. 
1/ Notable figures on respiratory diseases in Vietnam 

• 132,000 cases of seasonal influenza in 2025. 
• 113,000 tuberculosis cases detected in 2024. 
• 24,000 lung cancer cases each year, ranking second in the number of deaths. 
• 4.2% of people over 40 have COPD, among the highest rates in the Asia-Pacific region. 
• 4.1% of people over 40 have asthma, yet only about 29% of them receive preventive treatment. 

Source: Ministry of Health, National Tuberculosis Control Program 
Respiratory diseases do not merely cause the inconvenience of ordinary coughs. They also reduce concentration, work quality and teamwork effectiveness, and increase employees’ sick days, leading to a situation where staff come to work but fail to perform at full capacity (presenteeism). 
So which risks do businesses need to recognize in order to proactively protect their workforce’s health? 
2/ From the work environment to personal habits: Factors affecting employees’ respiratory health 

• Exposure to urban air pollution: diesel exhaust, fine dust from vehicles, open-air charcoal grills, small-scale craft and manufacturing areas, etc.; secondhand smoke. 
• Occupational exposure: Dust, fumes and chemicals, etc., specific to each industry, can lead to occupational lung diseases. 
• Shared working and living spaces: Enclosed spaces, air conditioning, poor ventilation and close contact can create conditions for respiratory problems typical of office-building environments, such as rhinosinusitis, influenza and tuberculosis, etc. 
• Global climate change: Erratic weather changes can further aggravate respiratory diseases. 
• Personal habits and factors: Smoking (active or passive) and unhealthy lifestyles (sedentary habits, staying up late, lack of sleep) weaken the immune system, thereby increasing the risk of respiratory diseases. 

3/ How can businesses proactively protect their workforce’s respiratory health? 
Workforce healthcare is shifting decisively from “reactive response” to “proactive prevention.” CarePlus experts recommend a two-tier strategy that helps businesses optimize their budgets and protect their teams effectively: 
Tier 1: Preventive foundation for all employees 

• Communication & Immunization: Provide updates on disease outbreaks, organize doctor-led talk shows, and offer influenza vaccination every October. 
• Basic screening: A chest X-ray once a year (or every few months when monitoring an acute condition) enables rapid screening for pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, or structural lesions. 

Tier 2: In-depth screening by risk stratification 

• Personalized checkup packages: Classify risk by work environment and lifestyle to design an appropriate list of examinations for each role, rather than applying a generic, one-size-fits-all package. 
• Low-dose chest CT (once a year): The gold-standard alternative to X-ray for high-risk groups (smokers, people exposed to chemicals, smoke, or dust, and those with a history of lung disease) or people who frequently experience recurrent respiratory problems. This method is both safe in terms of radiation dose and optimal for the early detection of lung nodules and early-stage lung cancer. 

Budget-optimized solutions for businesses: 
Choosing the right components helps businesses allocate costs sensibly, detect risks early, and proactively protect their workforce. 
CarePlus partners with businesses, from periodic checkups to focused respiratory healthcare 
CarePlus provides examination, diagnosis, and treatment services, as well as specialized respiratory screening packages. We are ready to partner with businesses to design tailored healthcare programs that reflect the specific characteristics of each industry. 
Contact for consultation: corporate@careplusvn.com