| 1. |
- Pallasaho, Paula, et al.
(författare)
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Low socio-economic status is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms : a comparison between Finland, Sweden and Estonia
- 2004
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. - 1027-3719 .- 1815-7920. ; 8:11, s. 1292-300
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation of socio-economic status to respiratory symptoms common in asthma and chronic bronchitis, and to compare risk factors for these symptoms between three neighbouring countries. DESIGN: A postal survey was performed in 1996 as a part of comparative studies in Finland, Sweden and Estonia (the FinEsS studies). A random sample of 58,661 subjects aged 20-64 years were invited, of whom 44,483 participated. RESULTS: Respiratory symptoms were most prevalent among manual workers, who were at significantly increased risk for chronic respiratory symptoms. The same pattern of increased risk appeared when the analyses were made among non-smokers only: for recurrent wheeze, manual workers in industry yielded an OR of 1.91 (95%CI 1.62-2.24) and in the service sector an OR of 1.50 (95%CI 1.27-1.78). The corresponding figures for chronic productive cough were 1.45 (95%CI 1.22-1.71) and 1.20 (95%CI 1.02-1.42), respectively. Risk factor profiles for respiratory symptoms were similar in Finland, Sweden and Estonia, except for gender differences in Estonia.CONCLUSIONS: Belonging to the socio-economic group of manual workers correlated with an increased risk for chronic respiratory symptoms, independently of smoking habits, in each country. Women manual workers in industry suffered most from respiratory symptoms
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| 2. |
- Fagerås Böttcher, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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A TLR4 polymorphism is associated with asthma and reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-12(p70) responses in Swedish children
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 114:3, s. 561-567
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Bacterial signals play an important role in the maturation of the immune system. Polymorphisms in genes coding for receptors to bacterial components can alter the immune responsiveness of the host to microbial agents and may indicate the development of aberrant immune responses that are associated with immune-mediated diseases such as atopic diseases. Objective The study's objective was to investigate the relationship between TLR4 and CD14 gene polymorphisms, the LPS responsiveness of PBMCs, and the presence of asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children. Methods The TLR4 (Asp299Gly) and CD14/−159 polymorphisms were determined in 115 Swedish children aged 8 and 14 years. LPS-induced IL-12(p70), IL-10, and IFN-γ responses of PBMCs from 69 of the children were analyzed by means of ELISA. The levels of soluble CD14 in serum samples were analyzed by means of ELISA, and the total IgE levels were analyzed by means of UniCAP Total IgE (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden). Results Decreased LPS-induced IL-12(p70) and IL-10 responses were associated with the TLR4 (Asp299Gly) polymorphism and independently with asthma, especially atopic asthma. The TLR4 (Asp299Gly) polymorphism was associated with a 4-fold higher prevalence of asthma in school-aged children (adjusted odds ratio 4.5, 95% CI 1.1-17.4) but not to allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Conclusion A TLR4 polymorphism modifies innate immune responses in children and may be an important determinant for the development of asthma. This may influence the outcome of intervention studies that use microbial stimuli as immune modulators.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Lindström, Mai, et al.
(författare)
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Smoking, respiratory symptoms, and diseases : a comparative study between northern Sweden and northern Finland: report from the FinEsS study
- 2001
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Ingår i: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692 .- 1931-3543. ; 119:3, s. 852-861
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AB - STUDY OBJECTIVES: The influences of different smoking categories on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and chronic bronchitis have been examined in the most northern province of Sweden, Norrbotten, and in Lapland, Finland. The two areas have similar geographic and demographic conditions. METHODS AND STUDY POPULATION: The study is a part of the FinEsS studies, which are epidemiologic respiratory surveys in progress in Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. A random sample of 20- to 69-years-olds were invited to answer a postal questionnaire about respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and occupation. In Norrbotten, 8,333 subjects were invited and 7,104 responded (85%). In Lapland, 8,005 were invited and 6,633 responded (83%). RESULTS: The participation by age and sex was similar in both countries. The prevalence of smokers in Lapland was 32% vs 26% in Norrbotten. Significantly more women than men in Norrbotten were smokers, while the opposite was true for Lapland. Sputum production was the most prevalent symptom in both areas, 25% in Lapland vs 19% in Norrbotten. The prevalence of chronic productive cough was 11% in Lapland and 7% in Norrbotten. Bronchitic symptoms were more prevalent in Lapland among both smokers and nonsmokers. A positive family history of chronic obstructive airway disease together with increased number of consumed cigarettes showed an additive effect for both chronic productive cough and wheezing. The odds ratio (OR) for wheezing during the last 12 months was 3.8 for subjects without a family history of obstructive airway disease who consumed > 14 cigarettes per day compared with nonsmokers, but if the subjects had a family history of obstructive airway disease, the risk for wheezing increased to OR 8.4. CONCLUSION: Bronchitic symptoms were more common in Finland. The difference remained also after correction for demographic variables including smoking habits, age and socioeconomic group, and family history of obstructive airway disease. Identical methods, sample composition, and the high participation rate contribute to the validity of the results. Air pollution, including environmental tobacco smoke, may contribute to the difference. To explain the difference, further analysis and investigations of social and environmental factors as well as genetic factors are needed.
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| 5. |
- Lindström, Mai, et al.
(författare)
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Underdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northern Sweden
- 2002
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. - 1027-3719 .- 1815-7920. ; 6:1, s. 76-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess underdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies of respiratory symptoms and diseases in two population samples of the same age living in the same areas in northern Sweden were performed 6 years apart. In 1986, 5698 (86%) out of 6610 subjects aged 35-36, 50-51 and 65-66 years responded to a postal questionnaire. In 1992 an identical study was performed, and 5617 subjects (87%) out of 6434 responded. Lung function measurements were performed in stratified samples. RESULTS: Of the subjects diagnosed with chronic bronchitis only 25% in 1986 and 23% in 1992 had been diagnosed prior to the study as having chronic bronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic airflow limitation (CAL), used as a surrogate variable for COPD and defined as FEV1/VC <70% and FEV1 <80% of predicted value, was found in 171 subjects in 1986-1987 (12% of the examined subjects), and 166 subjects in 1993-1994 (11%). In 1986-1987, 26% of the subjects with CAL had been diagnosed as having chronic bronchitis or emphysema prior to the survey, while a diagnosis of either asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or use of asthma medicines, was found in 58%. The corresponding figures in 1993-1994 were 31% and 63%, respectively. The great majority of the subjects with CAL had recurrent wheeze, dyspnoea and chronic productive cough. CONCLUSION: Approximately 60% of the subjects with chronic airflow limitation had been diagnosed prior to the survey as having asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or were using asthma medicines. The results were similar in 1986-1987 and 1993-1994.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Lundbäck, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Not 15 But 50% of smokers develop COPD?—Report from the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Studies
- 2003
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 97:2, s. 115-122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to guidelines of today seems considerably higher than has been reported also in recent literature.Aim: To estimate the prevalence of COPD as defined by British Thoracic Society (BTS) criteria and the recent global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria. Further aims were to assess the proportion of underdiagnosis and of symptoms in subjects with COPD, and to study risk factors for COPD.Methods: In 1996, 5892 of the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) Study's first cohort could be traced to a third follow-up survey, and 5189 completed responses (88%) were received corresponding to 79% of the original cohort from December 1985. Of the responders, a random sample of 1500 subjects were invited to a structured interview and a lung function test, and 1237 of the invited completed a lung function test with acceptable quality.Results: In ages >45 years, the prevalence of COPD according to the BTS guidelines was 8%, while it was 14% according to the GOLD criteria. The absolutely dominating risk factors were increasing age and smoking, and approximately a half of elderly smokers fulfilled the criteria for COPD according to both the BTS and the GOLD criteria. Family history of obstructive airway disease was also a risk factor, while gender was not. Of those fulfilling the BTS criteria for COPD, 94% were symptomatics, 69% had chronic productive cough, but only 31% had prior to the study been diagnosed as having either chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD. The corresponding figures for COPD according GOLD were 88, 51, and 18%.Conclusions: In ages >45 years, the prevalence of COPD according to the BTS guidelines was 8%, and it was 14% according to the GOLD criteria. Fifty percent of elderly smokers had developed COPD. The large majority of subjects having COPD were symptomatic, while the proportion of those diagnosed as having COPD or similar diagnoses was small.
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