| 1. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(author)
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Adult-onset asthma and wheeze among irritant-exposed bleachery workers.
- 2003
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In: American journal of industrial medicine. - : Wiley. - 0271-3586. ; 43:5, s. 532-538
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Whether new-onset asthma is associated with irritant exposure is unclear. The aim was to investigate if occupational exposure to irritant gases, especially repeated peak exposure (gassings), increased the risk of obstructive airways disease. Methods Data on airway symptoms and exposure among bleachery (n=101) and paper department workers (n=314) were collected by a questionnaire. Incidence rates and hazard ratios (HR) (Cox regression) were calculated. Non-responders were interviewed by telephone. Results The incidence rate for adult-onset physician-diagnosed asthma among bleachery workers reporting gassings giving rise to respiratory symptoms was 7.6/103 person-years and for those without gassings 2.2/103 person-years, compared to 1.0/103 person-years for paper workers. In a Cox regression model for asthma (n=12), stratified for sex, HR for gassings were 5.6 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.6–20), for hay fever 3.0 (95% CI 0.8–11), and for ever smoking 0.7 (95% CI 0.2–2.4). The same model for adult-onset wheeze gave HR of 5.2 (95% CI 2.2–12), 1.7 (95% CI 0.6–5.4), and 1.1 (95% CI 0.5–2.7), respectively. Conclusions Repeated peak exposure to irritant gases, here studied as gassings in the pulp industry, increased the risk for both adult-onset asthma and wheeze.
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| 2. |
- Barnes, H., et al.
(author)
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Occupation versus environmental factors in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: population attributable fraction
- 2020
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In: Erj Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Despite well-documented case series of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), epidemiological data delineating relative contributions of risk factors are sparse. To address this, we estimated HP risk in a case-referent study of occupational and nonoccupational exposures. Methods: We recruited cases of HP by ICD-9 codes from an integrated healthcare delivery system (IHCDS) and a tertiary medical care centre. We drew referents, matched for age and sex, from the IHCDS. Participants underwent comprehensive, structured telephone interviews eliciting details of occupational and home environmental exposures. We employed a hierarchical analytic approach for data reduction based on the false discovery rate method within clusters of exposures. We measured lung function and selected biomarkers in a subset of participants. We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate exposure-associated odds ratios (ORs) and population attributable fractions (PAFs) for HP. Results: We analysed data for 192 HP cases (148 IHCDS; 44 tertiary care) and 229 referents. Occupational exposures combined more than doubled the odds of developing HP (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.73-4.14) with a PAF of 34% (95% CI 21-46%); nonoccupational bird exposure also doubled the HP odds (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.13-3.60), with a PAF of 12% (3-21%). Lung function and selected biomarkers did not substantively modify the risk estimates on the basis of questionnaire data alone. Discussion: In a case-referent approach evaluating HP risk, identifiable exposures accounted, on an epidemiological basis, for approximately two in three cases of disease; conversely, for one in three, the risk factors for disease remained elusive.
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| 3. |
- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Decreased exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in obese with asthma symptoms: Data from the population study INTERGENE/ADONIX
- 2011
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In: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692. ; 139:5, s. 1109-1116
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated an association between obesity and asthma. However, it is uncertain if fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), which is used as a marker of airway inflammation, and atopy are associated with BMI. The aim was to examine if obese with asthma symptoms have a different phenotype of asthma than non-obese as indicated by FENO. METHODS: The subjects (n=2187) consist of women and men, aged 25-74, living in Gothenburg, Sweden, participating in the randomly selected INTERGENE study cohort. Measurements include anthropometric measures, bioelectric impedance, FENO, pulmonary function, blood samples for IgE and questionnaires including items on respiratory symptoms. Obesity was defined as BMI≥30 kg/m(2). In this cross-sectional analysis, general linear models were used to analyse how FENO was associated with anthropometry, body composition, wheezing and atopy. RESULTS: In non-obese subjects, wheezing was associated with raised FENO and atopy, whereas, in contrast, obese with wheezing had lower FENO than obese without wheezing (16.1 v.s. 19.1 ppb, p<0.01). The prevalence of atopy was similar in both those sub-groups (25.0 v.s. 20.7%, p=0.4). Similarly, in 395 subjects (19%) who reported wheezing, FENO was negatively associated with BMI, waist-hip ratio and percentage of body fat, while no significant relationships were observed in those without respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Wheezing was significantly associated with reduced FENO in obese subjects, whereas there was a positive association between wheezing and FENO among the non-obese, indicating a possible difference in asthma phenotype, based on body weight.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Brisman, Jonas, 1954, et al.
(author)
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Spirometric reference equations for Swedish adults
- 2017
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In: Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. - : Wiley. - 1475-0961. ; 37:6, s. 640-645
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New spirometric reference equations for Swedish adults are required. Three different older sets of reference equations clinically used in Sweden have various drawbacks and the recently published 'The Global Lung Function 2012 (GLI) equations' have been shown not to be adequate for Swedish normal, healthy non-smokers. We have recently concluded that a piecewise linear model presented by Lubinski and Golczewski accurately describes the distribution of spirometric variables in a large Swedish random population sample. This piecewise linear model also offers the important advantage of implementing easily physiologically interpretable coefficients. The present study aimed at presenting piecewise linear reference equations for Swedish adults based on a random population sample of 6685 individuals aged 25-75years. Predicted normal values by the piecewise linear reference equations and lower limit normal (LLN) were compared with the three reference equations frequently used clinically in Sweden and the GLI equations. We found predicted normal values according to the present piecewise linear reference equations close to 100% predicted normal as expected, whereas the other equations either overestimated or underestimated normal subjects. Concerning LLN, the present equations, i.e. 1.645 x RSD, showed the least deviation from the expected 5% and, e.g., the GLI equations systematically identified too few subjects below LLN. We conclude that the present piecewise linear reference equations, based on a relatively large general population sample, ought to be considered for clinical use in Sweden. Application of 1.645 x RSD below predicted value gave an acceptably accurate LLN.
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| 6. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Exposure to traffic and lung function in adults: A general population cohort study
- 2015
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 5:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate the association between living near dense traffic and lung function in a cohort of adults from a single urban region. Design: Cross-sectional results from a cohort study. Setting: The adult-onset asthma and exhaled nitric oxide (ADONIX) cohort, sampled during 2001-2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Exposure was expressed as the distance from participants' residential address to the nearest road with dense traffic (>10 000 vehicles per day) or very dense traffic (>30 000 vehicles per day). The exposure categories were: low (>500 m; reference), medium (75-500 m) or high (<75 m). Participants: The source population was a population-based cohort of adults (n=6153). The study population included 5441 participants of European descent with good quality spirometry and information about all outcomes and covariates. Outcome measures: Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were measured at a clinical examination. The association with exposure was examined using linear regression adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking status and education in all participants and stratified by sex, smoking status and respiratory health status. Results: We identified a significant dose-response trend between exposure category and FEV1 (p=0.03) and borderline significant trend for FVC (p=0.06) after adjusting for covariates. High exposure was associated with lower FEV1 (-1.0%, 95% CI -2.5% to 0.5%) and lower FVC (-0.9%, 95% CI -2.2% to 0.4%). The effect appeared to be stronger in women. In highly exposed individuals with current asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, FVC was lower (-4.5%, 95% CI -8.8% to -0.1%). Conclusions: High traffic exposure at the residential address was associated with lower than predicted FEV1 and FVC lung function compared with living further away in a large general population cohort. There were particular effects on women and individuals with obstructive disease.
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| 7. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Exposure to traffic-related particle matter and effects on lung function and potential interactions in a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study in west Sweden.
- 2020
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In: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 10:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate the long-term effects of source-specific particle matter (PM) on lung function, effects of Surfactant Protein A (SP-A) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes GSTP1 and GSTT1 gene variants and effect modification by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype.Cohort study with address-based annual PM exposure assigned from annual estimates of size (PM10, PM2.5 and PMBC) and source-specific (traffic, industry, marine traffic and wood burning) dispersion modelling.Gothenburg, Sweden.The ADult-Onset asthma and NItric oXide Study had 6685 participants recruited from the general population, of which 5216 (78%) were included in the current study with information on all variables of interest. Mean age at the time of enrolment was 51.4 years (range 24-76) and 2427 (46.5%) were men.The primary outcome was forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1). Secondary outcome measures were effects and gene-environment interactions of SP-A and GSTT1 and GSTP1 genotypes.Exposure to traffic-related PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with decreases in percent-predicted (% predicted) FEV1 by -0.48% (95% CI -0.89% to -0.07%) and -0.47% (95% CI -0.88% to -0.07%) per IQR 3.05 and 2.47 µg/m3, respectively, and with decreases in % predicted FVC by -0.46% (95% CI -0.83% to -0.08%) and -0.47% (95% CI -0.83% to -0.10%). Total and traffic-related PMBC was strongly associated with both FEV1 and FVC by -0.53 (95% CI -0.94 to -0.13%) and -0.43% (95% CI -0.77 to -0.09%) per IQR, respectively, for FVC, and similarly for FEV1. Minor allele carrier status for two GSTP1 SNPs and the GSTT1 null genotype were associated with decreases in % predicted lung function. Three SP-A SNPs showed effect modification with exposure to PM2.5 from industry and marine traffic.PM exposure, specifically traffic related, was associated with FVC and FEV1 reductions and not modified by genotype. Genetic effect modification was suggested for industry and marine traffic PM2.5.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Ekerljung, Linda, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Multi-symptom asthma as an indication of disease severity in epidemiology
- 2011
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In: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 38:4, s. 825-832
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 10. |
- Ekström, Magnus Pär, et al.
(author)
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The association of body mass index, weight gain and central obesity with activity-related breathlessness : the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study
- 2019
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In: Thorax. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 74:10, s. 958-964
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Breathlessness is common in the population, especially in women and associated with adverse health outcomes. Obesity (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2)) is rapidly increasing globally and its impact on breathlessness is unclear.Methods: This population-based study aimed primarily to evaluate the association of current BMI and self-reported change in BMI since age 20 with breathlessness (modified Research Council score >= 1) in the middle-aged population. Secondary aims were to evaluate factors that contribute to breathlessness in obesity, including the interaction with spirometric lung volume and sex.Results: We included 13 437 individuals; mean age 57.5 years; 52.5% women; mean BMI 26.8 (SD 4.3); mean BMI increase since age 20 was 5.0 kg/m(2); and 1283 (9.6%) reported breathlessness. Obesity was strongly associated with increased breathlessness, OR 3.54 (95% CI, 3.03 to 4.13) independent of age, sex, smoking, airflow obstruction, exercise level and the presence of comorbidities. The association between BMI and breathlessness was modified by lung volume; the increase in breathlessness prevalence with higher BMI was steeper for individuals with lower forced vital capacity (FVC). The higher breathlessness prevalence in obese women than men (27.4% vs 12.5%; p<0.001) was related to their lower FVC. Irrespective of current BMI and confounders, individuals who had increased in BMI since age 20 had more breathlessness.Conclusion: Breathlessness is independently associated with obesity and with weight gain in adult life, and the association is stronger for individuals with lower lung volumes.
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