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| 2. |
- Andersson, Louise, et al.
(författare)
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Med värme ihågkommen
- 2012
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Syftet med detta projekt har varit att med hjälp av en intervjustudie och kunskapsgenomgång redovisahur utomhusmiljö, gemensamhetslokaler och bostäder kan utformas för att minska risken för att äldreoch personer med nedsatt funktionsförmåga blir medtagna eller dör i förtid under värmeböljor. Måletär att öka medvetenheten och intresset för anpassning av miljö och byggnader hos personer ansvarigaför samhällsplanering, bostadsbestånd, trygghets-, vård- och omsorgsboenden.Städer är normalt varmare och mindre blåsiga än det omgivande landskapet. Städernas ”varmareklimat” beror främst på den större värmelagring som kan ske i byggnader, gator, trottoarer mm,begränsat med vegetation som kan skugga och avge fukt samt aktiviteter som trafik och eldning vilketgenererar värme. Under värmeböljor ökar dödligheten mer i städer. Att leva ensam, vara sängbundenoch bo på översta våningen har visats vara riskfaktorer.Åtgärderna för att minska stadens värmeö och värmeböljornas effekter på människor brukar iblanddelas in i ”mjuka åtgärder” (information, varningssystem för värmeböljor, insatser för känsligagrupper), ”gröna åtgärder” (göra staden till en grönare miljö) och ”tekniska åtgärder” (skuggandekonstruktioner, modifiering av väggar, kylning/luftkonditionering inomhus etc.), vilka kompletterarvarandra. I vissa länder, bl. a. England, ska äldreboenden ha ett samlingsrum som kan hållas svaltäven under värmeböljor, men det är oklart vilken juridisk status som bestämmelserna har.Intervjustudien syftade till att belysa hur problemen uppfattas av personal inom äldreomsorgen iSverige. Som datainsamlingsmetod genomfördes 20 semistrukturerade intervjuer medomvårdnadspersonal i Botkyrka kommun under oktober 2011. Urvalet baserades påtillgänglighetsprincipen. Innehållsanalyser gjordes på transkriberad intervjudata och kategorier ochunderkategorier skapades utifrån återkommande teman som återfanns i texten. Slutsatserna frånstudien pekar på att de utbildnings- och informationsinsatser angående värmeböljors effekter påkänsliga grupper som riktas till personal inom äldreomsorgen borde intensifieras, samt attpersonalens kunskap om verksamheten och vårdtagarnas behov borde tas tillvara redan iplaneringsstadiet för äldreboenden.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Martin, 1979-
(författare)
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Asthma in school age : prevalence, incidence and remission in relation to environmental determinants
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background In the past half-century, the prevalence of asthma among children and adolescents has risen and asthma has become an important public health challenge in Sweden as well as in many other countries, necessitating further studies on this complex disease and its risk factor pattern. The studies included in this thesis aimed to investigate the clinical expression of childhood asthma over time, to describe the determinants of new-onset and remission of asthma, and to evaluate possible environmental risk factors in northern Sweden.Methods As the result of a repeated questionnaire survey among primary school children aged 7-8 years in three municipalities in the north of Sweden, two pediatric cohorts were formed, one in 1996 (n=3430) and one in 2006 (n=2585). The cohort created in 1996 was followed annually until the age of 19 years. Skin prick testing was performed on children in both cohorts. Lung function and bronchial hyperreactivity testing were carried out in children with asthma in the first cohort. The study participation and retention rates were very high in both cohorts. Among children in the second cohort living in Luleå, the home addresses were assigned to coordinates in a geographical information system (GIS) to evaluate the impact on respiratory health of living near roads with much traffic, which was measured as the number of vehicles daily. We used a validated reported diagnosis of asthma and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questions were incorporated into the questionnaire. A cross-sectional study of children of the same age ten years apart, longitudinal studies on asthma incidence and remission as well as a cross-sectional study on vehicle traffic were performed.Results While children aged 7-8 years in 2006 more often had a physician-diagnosed asthma compared to children of the same age in 1996 (7.4% vs 5.7%, p<0.001), they had less asthma symptoms, especially severe symptoms. In parallel, a more beneficial environment and a more intense treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were observed. The explanation for this change in clinical expression probably includes also an increased awareness and diagnosing of asthma. From age 12 years to age 19 years, the cumulative incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 7.2% and of current wheeze 22.0%. The risk of new-onset asthma in adolescence was increased among girls, sensitized and those with heredity for asthma. Smoking and home dampness increased the risk for incident wheeze. The risk for both incident asthma and wheeze was inversely related to number of siblings. Among children with current asthma at age 7-8 years, 21% were in remission, 38% had periodic asthma and 41% had persistent asthma at a follow-up at age 19 years. Subjects in remission and with periodic asthma had significantly less airway obstruction and showed less bronchial hyperreactivity compared to subjects with persistent asthma. The probability of asthma remission from childhood to early adulthood was significantly increased by absence of allergic sensitization, male gender and a low asthma severity scoring at age 7-8 years. Sensitization to furred animals was more important as a determinant of both incidence and remission than sensitization to pollen. Living close to roads with high traffic flows, especially with heavy vehicles, was associated with an increased risk for current wheeze. Stratified analyses showed that the effect of traffic on asthma and wheeze was restricted to non-sensitized subjects.Conclusion Asthma onset in adolescence was more common among girls and remission was more common among boys. Children sensitized to furred animals and children with a more severe asthma were risk groups for persistence of asthma. Environmental factors such as smoking and dampness were associated to onset of asthma symptoms during adolescence, and vehicle traffic was associated with asthma symptoms among children also in a small city with relatively low traffic flows. Preventive measures like smoking reduction programs, improvement of damp housing conditions and separation of areas where many children live from heavily trafficked roads could prove to be beneficial.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Heavy vehicle traffic is related to wheeze among schoolchildren : a population-based study in an area with low traffic flows
- 2011
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Ingår i: Environmental Health. - London : BioMed Central. - 1476-069X. ; 10:91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: An association between traffic air pollution and respiratory symptoms among children has been reported. However, the effects of traffic air pollution on asthma and wheeze have been very sparsely studied in areas with low traffic intensity in cold climate with poor dispersion. We evaluated the impact of vehicle traffic on childhood asthma and wheeze by objective exposure assessment.Methods: As a part of the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies, a questionnaire was sent to the families of all children attending first or second grade in Luleå (72,000 inhabitants) in Northern Sweden in 2006. The age of the children was 7-8 years and the participation rate was 98% (n = 1357). Skin prick tests were performed in 1224 (89%) children. The home addresses were given geographical coordinates and traffic counts were obtained from the local traffic authorities. A proximity model of average daily traffic and average daily heavy vehicle traffic within 200 meters from each participant's home address was used. The associations between traffic exposure and asthma and wheeze, respectively, were analysed in an adjusted multiple logistic regression model.Results: Exposure to high traffic flows was uncommon in the study area; only 15% of the children lived within 200 meters from a road with a traffic flow of ≥8000 vehicles per day. Living closer than 200 meters from a road with ≥500 heavy vehicles daily was associated with current wheeze, odds ratio 1.7 (confidence interval 1.0-2.7). A dose-response relation was indicated. An increased risk of asthma was also seen, however not significant, odds ratio 1.5 (confidence interval 0.8-2.9). Stratified analyses revealed that the effect of traffic exposure was restricted to the non-sensitized phenotype of asthma and wheeze. The agreement between self-reported traffic exposure and objective measurements of exposure was moderate.Conclusions: This study showed that already at low levels of exposure, vehicle traffic is related to an increased risk of wheeze among children. Thus, the global burden of traffic air pollution may be underestimated.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Remission and Persistence of Asthma Followed From 7 to 19 Years of Age
- 2013
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Ingår i: Pediatrics. - : American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). - 0031-4005 .- 1098-4275. ; 132:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To date, a limited number of population-based studies have prospectively evaluated the remission of childhood asthma. This work was intended to study the remission and persistence of childhood asthma and related factors. METHODS: In 1996, a questionnaire was distributed to the parents of all children aged 7 to 8 years in 3 municipalities in northern Sweden, and 3430 (97%) participated. After a validation study, 248 children were identified as having asthma; these children were reassessed annually until age 19 years when 205 (83%) remained. During the follow-up period lung function, bronchial challenge testing, and skin prick tests were performed. Remission was defined as no use of asthma medication and no wheeze during the past 12 months as reported at endpoint and in the 2 annual surveys preceding endpoint (ie, for >= 3 years). RESULTS: At age 19 years, 21% were in remission, 38% had periodic asthma, and 41% persistent asthma. Remission was more common among boys. Sensitization to furred animals and a more severe asthma (asthma score >= 2) at age 7 to 8 years were both inversely associated with remission, odds ratio 0.14 (95% confidence interval 0.04-0.55) and 0.19 (0.07-0.54), respectively. Among children with these 2 characteristics, 82% had persistent asthma during adolescence. Asthma heredity, damp housing, rural living, and smoking were not associated with remission. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of remission of childhood asthma from age 7- to 8-years to age 19 years was largely determined by sensitization status, particularly sensitization to animals, asthma severity, and female gender, factors all inversely related to remission.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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The clinical expression of asthma in schoolchildren has changed between 1996 and 2006.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 1399-3038 .- 0905-6157. ; 21:5, s. 859-66
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several studies have reported diverging trends in the prevalence of asthma and wheeze. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical expression of childhood asthma in 1996 and 2006 by studying asthma morbidity, treatment, and environmental exposures in school children with physician-diagnosed asthma and wheeze, respectively. All children enrolled in first or second grade (7-8 yr-old) in three municipalities in northern Sweden were invited to a questionnaire study in 1996 and 2006, respectively. In 1996, 3430 (97%) participated; and in 2006, 2585 (96%) participated. The same parental completed questionnaire, including the ISAAC questions, was used in both surveys. Physician-diagnosed asthma was reported at 5.7% in 1996 and 7.4% in 2006. A significantly greater proportion of children with asthma were using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in 2006, 67% vs. 55% in 1996. This increase was parallel to a major decrease in severe asthma symptoms such as disturbed sleep because of wheeze (49% vs. 38%) and troublesome asthma (21% vs. 11%). The prevalence of current wheeze among the asthmatics decreased significantly; however, this was seen only among children not using ICS. Parental smoking decreased significantly as did the proportion living in damp buildings. In conclusion, although asthma remains a major public health issue in school age children, children with asthma had less respiratory symptoms and a better asthma control in 2006 compared to 1996. This parallels with an increase in treatment with ICS, more beneficial environmental conditions, and an increased diagnostic intensity resulting in a larger proportion of children with mild symptoms being diagnosed as having asthma.
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| 7. |
- Annika, Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial variation of ground level ozone and the relation between ozone and NO2/NOx in two Swedish cities
- 2013
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Ozone is a pollutant known to cause adverse effects on human health. It is formed by reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons under the influence of sunlight. In urban areas ozone is consumed oxidating nitrogen oxide (NO) to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Despite the potential to cause adverse health effects, the local spatial distribution of ozone and the relationship between ozone, NO2 and NOx in different environments is poorly studied.Aims Our aim was to study the concentrations and spatial distribution of ozone in two cities, Malmö in the south of Sweden and Umeå in the north of Sweden, since the contribution of ozone from other parts of Europe decreases with higher latitude. We also wanted to investigate differences in the ozone/NO2 and the ozone/NOx ratios between the cities and between different environments.Methods Ozone, NO2 and NOx concentrations were measured with Ogawa diffusive samplers during three one-week campaigns in April, May/June and in August 2012. Measurements were conducted simultaneously at 20 sites in each city outside preschools, distributed at traffic sites, urban background sites and regional background (rural) sites. Results The average concentration of ozone in Malmö and Umeå were 67,5 µg/m3 and 50,6 µg/m3, respectively. The mean ozone/NOx ratio was of equal magnitude in Malmö and in Umeå, and in both cities the ratio was highest at rural sites and lowest at traffic sites. In Umeå there was a clear trend with highest ozone concentrations at rural sites and lowest concentrations at traffic sites, a trend that was not as obvious in Malmö. In Umeå the ozone/NO2 ratio at rural sites was about three times larger compared to Malmö.Conclusions There is a clear local variation of ozone, with stronger gradients in northern (Umeå) Sweden in comparison to southern Sweden (Malmö). This can partly be explained by less long-range transport of ozone and larger impact of local NO emissions that reduce ozone in northern Sweden.
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| 8. |
- Aström, Daniel Oudin, et al.
(författare)
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Acute Fatal Effects of Short-Lasting Extreme Temperatures in Stockholm, Sweden : Evidence Across a Century of Change.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Epidemiology. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1044-3983 .- 1531-5487. ; 24:6, s. 820-829
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events. Short-term effects of extreme hot and cold weather and their effects on mortality have been thoroughly documented, as have epidemiologic and demographic changes throughout the 20th century. We investigated whether sensitivity to episodes of extreme heat and cold has changed in Stockholm, Sweden, from the beginning of the 20th century until the present.METHODS: We collected daily mortality and temperature data for the period 1901-2009 for present-day Stockholm County, Sweden. Heat extremes were defined as days for which the 2-day moving average of mean temperature was above the 98th percentile; cold extremes were defined as days for which the 26-day moving average was below the 2nd percentile. The relationship between extreme hot/cold temperatures and all-cause mortality, stratified by decade, sex, and age, was investigated through time series modeling, adjusting for time trends.RESULTS: Total daily mortality was higher during heat extremes in all decades, with a declining trend over time in the relative risk associated with heat extremes, leveling off during the last three decades. The relative risk of mortality was higher during cold extremes for the entire period, with a more dispersed pattern across decades. Unlike for heat extremes, there was no decline in the mortality with cold extremes over time.CONCLUSIONS: Although the relative risk of mortality during extreme temperature events appears to have fallen, such events still pose a threat to public health.
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| 9. |
- Baccini, M., et al.
(författare)
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Impact of heat on mortality in 15 european cities : attributable deaths under different weather scenarios
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0143-005X .- 1470-2738. ; 65:1, s. 64-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: High ambient summer temperatures have been shown to influence daily mortality in cities across Europe. Quantification of the population mortality burden attributable to heat is crucial to the development of adaptive approaches. The impact of summer heat on mortality for 15 European cities during the 1990s was evaluated, under hypothetical temperature scenarios warmer and cooler than the mean and under future scenarios derived from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES).Methods: A Monte Carlo approach was used to estimate the number of deaths attributable to heat for each city. These estimates rely on the results of a Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis that combines city-specific heat-mortality functions.Results: The number of heat-attributable deaths per summer ranged from 0 in Dublin to 423 in Paris. The mean attributable fraction of deaths was around 2%. The highest impact was in three Mediterranean cities (Barcelona, Rome and Valencia) and in two continental cities (Paris and Budapest). The largest impact was on persons over 75 years; however, in some cities, important proportions of heat-attributable deaths were also found for younger adults. Heat-attributable deaths markedly increased under warming scenarios. The impact under SRES scenarios was slightly lower or comparable to the impact during the observed hottest year.Conclusions: Current high summer ambient temperatures have an important impact on European population health. This impact is expected to increase in the future, according to the projected increase of mean ambient temperatures and frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves.
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| 10. |
- Beelen, Rob, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on natural-cause mortality : an analysis of 22 European cohorts within the multicentre ESCAPE project
- 2014
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - : Elsevier. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 383:9919, s. 785-795
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Few studies on long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality have been reported from Europe. Within the multicentre European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE), we aimed to investigate the association between natural-cause mortality and long-term exposure to several air pollutants. Methods We used data from 22 European cohort studies, which created a total study population of 367 251 participants. All cohorts were general population samples, although some were restricted to one sex only. With a strictly standardised protocol, we assessed residential exposure to air pollutants as annual average concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with diameters of less than 2.5 mu m (PM2.5), less than 10 mu m (PM10), and between 10 mu m and 2.5 mu m (PMcoarse), PM2.5 absorbance, and annual average concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx), with land use regression models. We also investigated two traffic intensity variables-traffic intensity on the nearest road (vehicles per day) and total traffic load on all major roads within a 100 m buff er. We did cohort-specific statistical analyses using confounder models with increasing adjustment for confounder variables, and Cox proportional hazards models with a common protocol. We obtained pooled effect estimates through a random-effects meta-analysis. Findings The total study population consisted of 367 251 participants who contributed 5 118 039 person-years at risk (average follow-up 13.9 years), of whom 29 076 died from a natural cause during follow-up. A significantly increased hazard ratio (HR) for PM2.5 of 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.13) per 5 mu g/m(3) was recorded. No heterogeneity was noted between individual cohort effect estimates (I-2 p value=0.95). HRs for PM2.5 remained significantly raised even when we included only participants exposed to pollutant concentrations lower than the European annual mean limit value of 25 mu g/m(3) (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12) or below 20 mu g/m(3) (1.07, 1.01-1.13). Interpretation Long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution was associated with natural-cause mortality, even within concentration ranges well below the present European annual mean limit value.
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