| 11. |
- Ekerljung, Linda, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Has the increase in the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms reached a plateau in Stockholm, Sweden?
- 2010
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. - 1027-3719 .- 1815-7920. ; 14:6, s. 764-771
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- SETTING: An increase in the prevalence of asthma has previously been reported worldwide. However, the current trend is debatable. OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a defined study area in Stockholm, Sweden, using identical methods. DESIGN: A questionnaire was sent by mail in 1996 and 2007 to randomly selected subjects aged 20-69 years. On both occasions, 8000 subjects received the questionnaire, with response rates of 72% and 68%, respectively. Questions on asthma, respiratory symptoms, asthma medication and possible determinants were included. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants. RESULTS: Ever asthma increased from 8.7% in 1996 to 11.0% in 2007 and physician-diagnosed asthma from 7.6% to 9.3%. The proportion of asthma patients reporting one to two symptoms increased by 14% during the study period. There were few significant changes in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms: wheeze in the previous 12 months (15.9-17.3%), wheezing with breathlessness apart from cold (3.2-4.1%) and recurrent wheeze (8.3-6.8%). There was no major difference in the risk factor pattern between the surveys. CONCLUSION: An increase in the prevalence of asthma with few symptoms as well as an unchanged prevalence of symptoms was demonstrated, which may indicate a change in diagnostic practices.
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| 12. |
- Ekerljung, Linda, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence and prevalence of adult asthma is associated with low socio-economic status
- 2010
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Ingår i: The Clinical Respiratory Journal. - 1752-6981 .- 1752-699X. ; 4:3, s. 147-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Low socio-economic status is often related to health problems; however, previous studies on asthma, usually cross-sectional, yield inconsistent results. In this study, longitudinal and cross-sectional data on the association between socio-economic status and asthma as well as respiratory symptoms among adults are presented. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent on two occasions, 1996 and 2006, to a randomly selected sample of subjects aged 20–69 years in 1996. In total, 4479 subjects participated in both surveys. The questionnaire included questions on asthma, respiratory symptoms and possible determinants. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, was used to study the association between asthma, respiratory symptoms and socio-economic status. Results: Manual workers in service had the highest prevalence and cumulative incidence for all investigated symptoms and asthma. Despite a large decrease in smokers, the increase in incident bronchitic symptoms was higher than the increase of incident asthma and incident asthmatic symptoms. Low socio-economic status, rhinitis and a family history of asthma were risk factors for having and developing asthma and respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Low socio-economic status is significantly associated with an increased risk for prevalent and incident asthma and respiratory symptoms in this longitudinal population-based survey. The increase in risk was most pronounced in manual workers. Several studies have recently shown an association between low socio-economic status and respiratory symptoms and we conclude that asthma can not be considered as a disease that mainly affects the middle and upper socio-economic classes.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Ekerljung, Linda, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-symptom asthma as an indication of disease severity in epidemiology
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 38:4, s. 825-832
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epidemiological questionnaires have failed to identify individuals with severe asthma. The extent of symptoms of asthma can, however, be easily established in epidemiology, by identification of multiple symptoms. We hypothesise that reporting of multiple symptoms of asthma reflects uncontrolled disease and is a sign of more severe asthma. The aims of the current study were, therefore, to determine the prevalence and determinants of multi-symptom asthma. A postal questionnaire was sent to 30,000 randomly selected individuals aged 16–75 yrs. A subgroup underwent clinical examinations. Multi-symptom asthma was defined as reported physician-diagnosed asthma, use of asthma medication, recurrent wheeze, attacks of shortness of breath and at least one additional respiratory symptom. The prevalence of multi-symptom asthma was 2.0%, and it was more common among females (2.4 versus 1.5%; p<0.001) and those with a body mass index >30 kg·m-2. Multi-symptom asthmatics had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s, higher exhaled nitric oxide fraction and more pronounced hyperresponsiveness. Family history of both asthma and allergy (OR 7.3), and occupational exposure to gas dust or fumes (OR 2.0) were also significant risk factors. Multi-symptom asthmatics comprise 2% of the general population; multi-symptom asthma is related to signs of more severe disease and could be used as an epidemiological marker of disease severity.
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| 15. |
- Ekerljung, Linda, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Questionnaire layout and wording influence prevalence and risk estimates of respiratory symptoms in a population cohort
- 2013
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Ingår i: Clinical Respiratory Journal. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1752-6981 .- 1752-699X. ; 7:1, s. 53-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Results of epidemiological studies are greatly influenced by the chosen methodology. The study aims to investigate how two frequently used questionnaires (Qs), with partly different layout, influence the prevalence of respiratory symptoms.Study Design and Setting: A booklet containing two Qs, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network Q and the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Q, was mailed to 30 000 subjects aged 16-75 years in West Sweden; 62% responded. Sixteen questions were included in the analysis: seven identical between the Qs, four different in set-up and five with the same layout but different wording. Comparisons were made using differences in proportions, observed agreement and Kappa statistics.Results: Identical questions yielded similar prevalences with high observed agreement and kappa values. Questions with different set-up or differences in wording resulted in significantly different prevalences with lower observed agreement and kappa values. In general, the use of follow-up questions, excluding subjects answering no to the initial question, resulted in 2.9-6.7% units lower prevalence.Conclusion: The question set-up has great influences on epidemiological results, and specifically questions that are set up to be excluded based on a previous no answer leads to lower prevalence compared with detached questions. Therefore, Q layout and exact wording of questions has to be carefully considered when comparing studies.
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| 16. |
- Eriksson, Berne, et al.
(författare)
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Association of heart diseases with COPD and restrictive lung function - Results from a population survey
- 2013
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 107:1, s. 98-106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Few studies have explored the association of COPD, based on GOLD definition, with heart diseases. The relationship between restrictive lung function impairment and heart diseases is still poorly studied on a population level. Objectives: To explore the association of COPD and restrictive lung function impairment, respectively, with heart diseases in the general population. Design: This is a cross-sectional study of 642 randomly selected 22- to 72-year-old subjects in northern Sweden. COPD was defined according to GOLD. Restrictive lung function was defined as pre-bronchodilator FVC <80% of predicted value and FEV1/FVC >= 0.7. Results: The prevalence of ischemic heart disease was 4% in subjects with normal spirometry, 13% in subjects with COPD, and 21% in those with restrictive lung function. The prevalence of heart diseases increased with COPD severity. On the other hand, the prevalence of COPD was particularly high in the group reporting myocardial infarction. In subjects reporting different heart diseases, the prevalence of restrictive lung function was high. In multivariate analyses including age, sex, smoking habits, family history of obstructive airway disease, body mass index, and socio-economic status as independent variables, COPD was associated with ischemic heart disease (odds ratio [OR] 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-6.08) and ischemic heart disease with COPD (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.03-5.61). Conclusion: The study shows a strong association between COPD and cardiovascular diseases and indicates a strong association between restrictive lung function and heart diseases. Both obstructive and restrictive lung function impairments were common among subjects with heart diseases and vice versa.
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| 17. |
- Eriksson, Jonas, 1984, et al.
(författare)
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Cigarette smoking is associated with high prevalence of chronic rhinitis and low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men
- 2013
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Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 68:3, s. 347-354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The harmful effects of tobacco smoke on human health, including respiratory health, are extensive and well documented. Previous data on the effect of smoking on rhinitis and allergic sensitization are inconsistent. We sought to investigate how smoking correlates with prevalence of allergic and chronic rhinitis among adults in Sweden. Methods The study population comprised 27 879 subjects derived from three large randomly selected cross-sectional population surveys conducted in Sweden between 2006 and 2008. The same postal questionnaire on respiratory health was used in the three surveys, containing questions about obstructive respiratory diseases, rhinitis, respiratory symptoms and possible determinants of disease, including smoking habits. A random sample from one of the cohorts underwent a clinical examination including skin prick testing. Results Smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both men and women and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. These associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusted for a number of possible confounders in multiple logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of chronic rhinitis was lowest in nonsmokers and highest in very heavy smokers (18.5% vs 34.5%, P < 0.001). Prevalence of sensitization to common airborne allergens was lower in current smokers (25.9%, P = 0.008) and ex-smokers (28.2%, P = 0.022) than in nonsmokers (38.5%). Conclusion We found that smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both sexes and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. The associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusting for several possible confounders.
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| 18. |
- Eriksson, Jonas, 1984, et al.
(författare)
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Growing up on a farm leads to lifelong protection against allergic rhinitis.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 65:11, s. 1397-403
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Various studies have reported a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in farmers and farmers' children. We sought to investigate whether the protective effect of childhood farm environment is conserved throughout adulthood and how it corresponds to different degrees of urbanization.
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| 19. |
- Eriksson, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of chronic nasal symptoms in West Sweden : risk factors and relation to self-reported allergic rhinitis and lower respiratory symptoms
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. - : S. Karger. - 1018-2438 .- 1423-0097. ; 154:2, s. 155-163
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There are few population-based studies on chronic nasal symptoms and little is known about their prevalence and determinants, or their association with allergic rhinitis and asthma.Methods: A questionnaire focused on respiratory symptoms and conditions was mailed in 2008 to 30,000 randomly selected subjects aged 16-75 years in West Sweden, 29,218 could be traced and 18,087 (62%) responded. The questionnaire included questions on self-reported allergic rhinitis, asthma, lower respiratory and nasal symptoms and possible determinants.Results: Nasal congestion was reported by 14.9% and runny nose by 13.1% of subjects. In total, 19.8% had chronic nasal symptoms. Subjects with chronic nasal symptoms had considerably more symptoms from the lower airways compared with nonrhinitic subjects and vice versa. Forty-seven percent of the subjects with chronic nasal symptoms had concurrent self-reported allergic rhinitis. Several hereditary and environmental factors were associated with chronic rhinitis, including family history of asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.50], family history of allergy (OR 1.74; 1.57-1.92) and current smoking (OR 1.39; 1.25-1.54). Further, chronic nasal symptoms were increasingly prevalent with an increasing degree of urbanization.Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic nasal symptoms in West Sweden was found to be high and strongly associated both with self-reported allergic rhinitis and symptoms from the lower airways. Moreover, several risk factors were identified for chronic nasal symptoms, including family history of allergy and asthma and smoking.
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| 20. |
- Eriksson, Jonas, 1984, et al.
(författare)
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Update of prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms among adults in Sweden
- 2012
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Ingår i: The Clinical Respiratory Journal. - 1752-699X .- 1752-6981. ; 6:3, s. 159-168
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common immunologic disease, and it renders a considerable burden on both sufferers and society. The prevalence of AR has been increasing worldwide over the past century. The aim of this study was to assess the present prevalence, risk factor patterns and comorbidity of self-reported AR and chronic nasal symptoms in different age groups in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent on two occasions, in 2006 to a population aged 30-80 years, randomly selected 10 years previously, and in 2007 to a randomly selected sample of subjects aged 20-69 years. The response rates were 83% and 68%, respectively, and in total, 9792 subjects participated. The questionnaire included questions on self-reported AR, asthma, respiratory and nasal symptoms and possible determinants. Results: The prevalence of self-reported AR was 28.0% (men 26.6%, women 29.1%, P<0.01) similar to 10 years previously and 33.6% in ages 30-40 years. Allergic heredity [odds ratio (OR) 4.76, confidence interval (CI) 95% 4.25-5.33], physician-diagnosed asthma (OR 5.29, CI 95% 4.49-6.24) and occupational exposure to dust, gases and fumes (OR 1.49, CI 95% 1.30-1.72) were determinants for AR. Prevalence of chronic nasal congestion was 16.1% and of chronic rhinorrhea 14.1%. Conclusions: As a basis for understanding the disease, as well as in planning and prioritising health-care resources, the study provides information about the current prevalence and determinants of self-reported AR and chronic nasal symptoms. Further, comparing with previous studies, the present study suggests that a plateau in the prevalence of AR may have been reached in Sweden. Please cite this paper as: Eriksson J, Ekerljung L, Rönmark E, Dahlén B, Ahlstedt S, Dahlén S-E and Lundbäck B. Update of prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms among adults in Sweden
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