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- Frisk, Margot, et al.
(författare)
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An investigation of the housing environment for persons with asthma and persons without asthma
- 2006
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 13:1, s. 4-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Asthma is a chronic disease affected by environmental factors that may increase symptoms that impact on a persons' well-being. An important issue in occupational therapy is to improve the relationship between a person's functional capacity and the physical environment. The aim of the study was to compare the housing environment of persons with asthma (cases, n=49) and persons without asthma (controls, n=48), with regard to building construction and condition, physical, chemical and biological factors, and cleaning routines. A secondary aim was to compare different types of accommodation within cases and controls. A specialist team, including a construction engineer, a biological scientist, and an occupational therapist, conducted the study. Data were collected using protocols, as well as a number of established technical methods from the field of occupational and environmentsl medicine. The primary results showed no major differences in the housing environment between the two groups. However, in individual homes environmental factors at levels that could increase symptoms were identified. When single-familyhouses were compared with multi-family houses, significant differences were found indicating that preventive interventions may be needed in some single-family houses. Further studies are needed to clarify the person-environment relationship for persons with asthma, focusing on their ability to perform daily activities.
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- Frisk, Margot L. A., et al.
(författare)
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Increased occurrence of respiratory symptoms is associated with indoor climate risk indicators : a cross-sectional study in a Swedish population
- 2007
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 101:9, s. 2031-2035
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A basic assumption was that exposure to the indoor environment would increase the manifestation of respiratory symptoms in predisposed individuals. The aim was to investigate the proportion of perceived respiratory symptoms attributed to specific environmental exposures, and associations related to indoor climate risk indicators, i.e. occurrence of damp or mould, insufficient ventilation and condensation on windows.MethodA questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 8008 individuals, stratified for gender and age. The response rate was 84% (n=6732). Established criteria for current asthma were used to classify subjects into three subgroups: asthmatics, healthy and symptomatics (but without current asthma).ResultsThe proportion of symptoms attributed to specific environmental exposures increased in the total sample and in the three subgroups when indoor climate risk indicators, particularly damp or mould, were reported. Generally, the lowest proportions were found for healthy and the highest for asthmatics. Univariate analyses presented as relative risks (RR) (95% CI) showed significantly increased risks for perceived overall influence on airways for all groups, with RR ranging from 4.3 to 6.8. Although respiratory symptoms attributed to dust, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and strong scents increased when risk indicators were reported, RR were generally lower in all groups.ConclusionThe high frequency of respiratory symptoms among asthmatics increased when occurrences of risk indicators were reported. Similarly, increased symptoms were found for healthy indicating that indoor climate risk indicators may affect both healthy and unhealthy individuals.
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| 4. |
- Frisk, Margot, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational therapy adaptation of the home environment in Sweden for people with asthma
- 2002
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Ingår i: Occupational Therapy International. - : Wiley. - 0966-7903 .- 1557-0703. ; 9:4, s. 294-311
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of lung function, respiratory symptoms and indoor air quality after reducing allergens and indoor pollutants in the home environment of people with asthma (n = 21). A quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design with one group of participants was implemented. The interventions included removal of wall-to-wall carpets (n = 14) or improvement of indoor air exchange (n = 7). Participants' lung function, symptoms, medication and type-1 allergy were recorded before and after the intervention. The indoor environment was monitored at house calls by an occupational therapist using conventional physical, biological and chemical methods. There was an improvement of lung function evidenced by an increased mean Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV(1) %) and a reduction of airway obstruction (reversibility, % of baseline value), which indicate an improved asthmatic condition. Lung function assessed by vital capacity, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, mean of Peak Expiratory Flow, symptom score and medicine consumption did not change significantly. There was a tendency that the amount of airborne dust (p=0.06) was reduced in the indoor environment. Relative humidity, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and house dust mite levels had decreased after the intervention, but not significantly. Asthma symptoms related to the home environment are probably caused by several factors. When people with asthma suffer from increased symptoms in the home, house calls should be performed routinely. Dust samples from beds and carpets for analysis of allergens give information about exposure, and environmental assessments should be performed before interventions. Occupational therapists can make a valuable contribution in evaluating the home environment and suggesting ergonomic adaptations for individuals with asthma.
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| 7. |
- Larsson, Matz L., et al.
(författare)
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Environmental tobacco smoke exposure during childhood is associated with increased prevalence of asthma in adults
- 2001
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Ingår i: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692 .- 1931-3543. ; 120:3, s. 711-717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To examine if exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during childhood has an impact on asthma prevalence in adults, and to identify the amount of nuisance from ETS and other lower airway irritants (LAWIs) in a city population. DESIGN: A postal survey. SETTING: The municipality of Orebro, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8,008 randomly selected inhabitants aged 15 to 69 years. MEASUREMENTS: Exposures, airway symptoms, and respiratory history were assessed using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 84%. In never-smokers with childhood ETS exposure, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 7.6% vs 5.9% in nonexposed subjects (p = 0.036). In never-smokers without a family history of asthma, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma in subjects reporting childhood ETS exposure was 6.8% vs 3.8% in nonexposed subjects (p < 0.001). Subjects with childhood ETS exposure were more likely to start smoking in adulthood. The prevalence of ever-smokers was 54.5% vs 33.8% (p < 0.0001) in nonexposed subjects. ETS was the most commonly reported LAWI in the total sample (21%), followed by exercise in cold air (20%), dust (19%), exercise (16%), perfume (15%), cold air (12%), pollen (10%), and pets (8%). All LAWIs were more frequently reported by women. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood exposure to ETS is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma among adult never-smokers, especially in nonatopic subjects. Children exposed to ETS are also more likely to become smokers. ETS is as a major LAWI.
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