Male sex, younger age and smoking contribute to low participating rate in an epidemiological study of asthma and respiratory symptoms

• Background: High participation rate is warranted in order to ensure the validity in epidemiological study results. However, participation rates in population based studies have declined during the last decades.Aim: To evaluate the causes and potential effects of non-response in a large population based survey about asthma and respiratory symptoms in Northern Sweden.Methods: In 2016 a random sample of 12000 adults in ages 20-79 were invited to a postal questionnaire survey about asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptoms. Three reminders were sent out. A random sample of 500 non-responders was identified for a telephone interview.Results: The participation rate in the initial mailing was 40.6%, and 9.0%, 4.9%, and 2.6% in the subsequent reminders; in total 57.1% (n=6854) participated. Of the 500 non-responders, 320 were possible to reach and 272 participated in the interviews. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms did not differ significantly between responders and non-responders. Male sex, younger age, and smoking were associated with both late and non-response. Even if more subjects with asthma or allergic rhinitis were late and non-responders the prevalence estimates of these conditions were not substantially affected. However, 11.7% of participants and 18.0% of non-responders were smokers (p <0.001). Reasons for non-participation were mainly lack of time and having forgotten to answer.Conclusion: With a response rate of 57.1%, our prevalence estimates of asthma and respiratory symptom were not biased while smoking was underestimated in this Swedish population.

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MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

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