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- Ahlroth Pind, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Pharmacological treatment of asthma in Sweden from 2005 to 2015
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Marcel Dekker. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 61:4, s. 313-321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Despite access to effective therapies many asthma patients still do not have well-controlled disease. This is possibly related to underuse of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and overuse of short-acting β2-agonists (SABA). Our aim was to investigate longitudinal trends and associated factors in asthma treatment.METHODS: Two separate cohorts of adults with physician-diagnosed asthma were randomly selected from 14 hospitals and 56 primary health centers in Sweden in 2005 (n = 1182) and 2015 (n = 1225). Information about symptoms, maintenance treatment, and use of rescue medication was collected by questionnaires. Associations between treatment and sex, age, smoking, education, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, allergic asthma, and symptom control were analyzed using Pearson's chi2-test. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression.RESULTS: Maintenance treatment with ICS together with long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) and/or montelukast increased from 39.2% to 44.2% (p = 0.012). The use of ICS + LABA as-needed increased (11.1-18.9%, p < 0.001), while SABA use decreased (46.4- 41.8%, p = 0.023). Regular treatment with ICS did not change notably (54.2-57.2%, p = 0.14). Older age, former smoking, and poor symptom control were related to treatment with ICS + LABA/montelukast. In 2015, 22.7% reported daily use of SABA. A higher step of maintenance treatment, older age, obesity, shorter education, current smoking, allergic asthma, low or very high physical activity, and a history of exacerbations were associated with daily SABA use.CONCLUSIONS: The use of ICS + LABA both for maintenance treatment and symptom relief has increased over time. Despite this, the problem of low use of ICS and high use of SABA remains.
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| 3. |
- Arnetz, Bengt, 1954-, et al.
(författare)
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Neighborhood air pollution and household environmental health as it relates to respiratory health and healthcare utilization among elderly persons with asthma
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 57:1, s. 28-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The study investigated the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5; <2.5 mu m in diameter), indoor environment, pulmonary function, and healthcare utilization in a vulnerable group of elderly persons with asthma. We hypothesized that environmental conditions were associated with adverse pulmonary health outcomes.Methods: The study involved elderly (n = 76; mean age 64.6 years; 48 women) vulnerable persons in Detroit, Michigan, USA, with physician-diagnosed asthma. Exposure variables included measured outdoor PM2.5, self-rated outdoor and household environmental pollutants. Outcome variables were self-rated and measured pulmonary function, and asthma-related healthcare utilization.Results: Mean ambient PM2.5 concentrations during the study was 14.14 +/- (S.D. 6.36) mu g/m(3) during the summer and 14.20 (6.33) during the winter (p = 0.95). In multiple regression analyses, adjusting for age and gender, mean 6-month concentration of PM2.5 was related to shortness of breath (SHOB; standardized beta = 0.26, p = 0.02) and inversely with self-rated respiratory health (SRRH; beta = 0.28, p = 0.02). However, PM2.5 did not predict lung function (FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC). However, PM2.5 was related to use of asthma controller drugs (beta = 0.38, p = 0.001). Participants' air pollution ratings predicted total healthcare utilization (beta = 0.33, p = 0.01).Conclusions: In elderly persons with asthma, living near heavy industry and busy highways, objective and perceived environmental pollution relate to participants' respiratory health and healthcare utilization. Importantly, air pollution might increase use of asthma controller drugs containing corticosteroids with implication for elderly persons' risk to develop osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
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| 6. |
- Axelsson, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Differences in diagnostic patterns of obstructive airway disease between areas and sex in Sweden and Finland : The Nordic EpiLung Study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 58:9, s. 1196-1207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the current prevalence of physician-diagnosed obstructive airway diseases by respiratory symptoms and by sex in Sweden and Finland. Method: In 2016, a postal questionnaire was answered by 34,072 randomly selected adults in four study areas: Västra Götaland and Norrbotten in Sweden, and Seinäjoki-Vaasa and Helsinki in Finland. Results: The prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in Norrbotten (13.2%), Seinäjoki-Vaasa (14.8%) and Helsinki (14.4%) than in Västra Götaland (10.7%), and physician-diagnosed asthma was highest in Norrbotten (13.0%) and least in Västra Götaland (10.1%). Chronic productive cough was most common in the Finnish areas (7.7-8.2 % versus 6.3-6.7 %) while the prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (CB) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) varied between 1.7-2.7% in the four areas. Among individuals with respiratory symptoms, the prevalence of asthma was most common in Norrbotten, while a diagnosis of COPD or CB was most common in Västra Götaland and Seinäjoki-Vaasa. More women than men with respiratory symptoms reported a diagnosis of asthma in Sweden and Seinäjoki-Vaasa but there were no sex differences in Helsinki. In Sweden, more women than men with symptoms of cough or phlegm reported a diagnosis of CB or COPD, while in Finland the opposite was found. Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and corresponding diagnoses varied between and within the countries. The proportion reporting a diagnosis of obstructive airway disease among individuals with respiratory symptoms varied, indicating differences in diagnostic patterns both between areas and by sex.
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- Bosnic-Anticevich, Sinthia, et al.
(författare)
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Inhaler technique mastery and maintenance in healthcare professionals trained on different devices
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 55:1, s. 79-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are required to assess and train patients in the correct use of inhalers but are often unable to demonstrate correct technique themselves. We sought to assess the level of training required for HCPs to master and maintain device mastery when using two different dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Methods: We conducted a randomized, un-blinded, crossover study in undergraduate HCPs who undertook a six-step training procedure (intuitive use, patient information leaflet, instructional video, individual tuition from expert, then two repeats of individual tuition) for the use of Turbuhaler® (an established device) and Spiromax® (a newer device, reportedly easier to use). Device mastery (absence of errors) was evaluated by expert assessors at each training step. Maintenance of mastery was assessed 4 ± 1 week (visit 2) and 8 ± 2 weeks (visit 3) after initial training (visit 1). Results: Of 516 eligible participants, 113 (22%) demonstrated device mastery prior to training on Spiromax® compared with 20 (4%) on Turbuhaler® (p < 0.001). The median number of training steps required to achieve mastery was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 2–4) for Spiromax® and 3 (IQR 2–4) for Turbuhaler® (p < 0.001). A higher number of participants maintained mastery with Spiromax® compared with Turbuhaler®, at visits 2 and 3 (64% vs 41% and 79% vs 65%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: There are significant differences in the nature and extent of training required to achieve and maintain mastery for Spiromax® and Turbuhaler® devices. The implications on clinical practice, device education delivery, and patient outcomes require further evaluation.
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| 9. |
- Bouhuis, Dennis, et al.
(författare)
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Factors associated with self-assessed asthma severity
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Marcel Dekker. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 59:4, s. 691-696
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Asthma severity can be estimated as the level of medication needed to achieve asthma control or by the patient's subjective assessment. Factors associated with self-assessed asthma severity are still incompletely explored.AIM: The aim was to study factors associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma.METHOD: In total, 1828 randomly selected asthma patients from primary (69%) and secondary (31%) care, completed a questionnaire including items about patient characteristics, comorbidity, the Asthma Control Test (ACT), emergency care visits and a scale for self-assessed asthma severity. Logistic regression was used to analyze associations with the dependent variable, self-assessed moderate or severe asthma in the entire study population and stratified by sex.RESULTS: Of the patients, 883 (45%) reported having moderate or severe asthma. Factors independently associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma were age >60 years (OR [95% CI] 1.98 [1.37-2.85]), allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (1.43 [1.05-1.95]), sinusitis (1.45 [1.09-1.93]), poor asthma control as measured by ACT <20 (5.64 [4.45-7.16]) and emergency care visits the previous year (2.52 [1.90-3.34]). Lower level of education was associated with self-assessed moderate/severe asthma in women (1.16 [1.05-2.43]) but not in men (0.90 [0.65-1.25]), p for interaction = .012.CONCLUSION: Poor asthma control, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, recent sinusitis and older age were independently associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma. Important implications are that comorbid conditions of the upper airways should always be considered as part of asthma management, and that elderly patients may need extra attention.
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| 10. |
- Brynjulfsen, Trine, et al.
(författare)
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Motivation for physical activity in adolescents with asthma
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 58:9, s. 1247-1255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective:We explored motivation for physical activity (PA) and exercise in adolescents with asthma who entered and continued a 10-week play-based exercise intervention. Methods:Eighteen adolescents with asthma, aged 13-17 years, participated in a 10-week play- and interval-based indoor exercise intervention during winter and autumn months. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted in weeks 2 and 8, focusing on motivation for PA and exercise, as well as field observations of exercise sessions in weeks 2, 6, and 8. The first interview was analyzed separately from the second one and descriptive observational data were obtained using thematic analysis and self-determination theory as a framework. Results:In the first round of focus group interviews, participants (n= 18) described amotivation and motivation for PA within the following five themes: "teachers' lack of asthma knowledge", "embarrassment over asthma symptoms", "not being able to keep pace with peers", "seasonal challenges", and "mastering fun physical activities". Based on the second interview (n= 14) and descriptive observational data (n= 18), participants reported and revealed amotivation and motivation for PA within the following four themes: "understanding and relatedness", "social support", "competition", and "mastering fun activities". Conclusion:We conclude that play-based exercises designed for groups of adolescents with asthma can support motivation for PA and exercise and reduce social and asthma-specific barriers.
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