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- Almqvist, Linnea, 1987-
(author)
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Asthma epidemiology : prognosis of asthma with onset in childhood and in adulthood
- 2024
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Aim: to update the knowledge on the epidemiology of asthma with onset in childhood and adulthood as well as examine the importance of risk factors in early childhood and clinical characteristics on the incidence and prognosis of asthma.Methods: The thesis is based on the epidemiological research program Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies. Pediatric cohort: recruited in 1996 (age 8y, n=3430, 97% of invited) and followed annually by questionnaire about asthma, allergy and risk factors until 19y and a postal questionnaire at 28y. Clinical examinations included skin prick tests (SPT at 8, 12 and 19y) and spirometry (19y). Adult cohort: 309 adults (age 20–60y) with asthma onset in the last 12 months were recruited 1995-99 and re-examined in 2012-14 (n=205). Structured interviews, spirometry and SPT were performed at recruitment and follow-up and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) at recruitment.Results: The asthma incidence rate was 10-13/1000/year in childhood and adolescence and 6/1000/year in young adulthood. Several risk factors in early life were associated with asthma onset in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, e.g. family history of asthma, <3 months breastfeeding, rhinoconjunctivitis and positive SPT at 8y, while low birthweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, severe respiratory infections and eczema were associated with onset in childhood and adolescence. Among those with asthma at 8y, 62% still had asthma at 28y and this was associated with positive SPT, rhinoconjunctivitis, severe respiratory infection in childhood, and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) in adolescence. Coexistence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema increased by age, especially among those with a positive SPT. However, having all three conditions was uncommon. In the 15y follow-up adult onset asthma, 89% had persistent asthma. Better lung function at recruitment and less severe BHR was associated with remission. Remission rate of adult onset asthma was <1% per year.Conclusion: The incidence of asthma was high during childhood and adolescence and then decreased in young adulthood. Factors in early life that were associated with incident asthma during childhood were still associated with the incidence in adult age. Among those with asthma onset by 8 years, 62%, still had asthma as young adults. The coexistence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema varied from 8 to 28y without following a specific pattern, only a small proportion reported having all three conditions. Remission of adult onset asthma was rare.
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- Almqvist, Linnéa, et al.
(author)
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Clinical outcome of adult onset asthma in a 15 year follow-up
- 2020
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In: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 56:Suppl 64
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Adult onset asthma is poorly studied and there are few long-term clinical follow-up studies.Aim: To study clinical characteristics of adult onset asthma in a 15-year follow-up.Method: Within the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies, a cohort of n=309 subjects with adult onset asthma (aged 20-60 years) was recruited during 1995-99. The cohort was followed up in 2012-14 (n=205). Structured interviews and clinical examinations including spirometry were performed at both recruitment and follow-up. Skin prick tests were performed at recruitment and blood samples for cell counts and IgE at the follow-up. Asthma control was classified according to GINA 2006.Results: At follow-up n=182 (89%) still had asthma, while n=23 (11%) were in remission. Among individuals with persistent asthma, mean pre-bronchodilator FEV1 percent of predicted was 89.0 at follow-up, similar as recruitment 88.3. At recruitment 16.5% were smokers, and of these, 86.7% had quit smoking at follow-up. At follow-up, 39% had blood neutrophils ≥4.0x109/L, 23% had blood eosinophils ≥0.3x109/L, and 28% had specific IgE>0.35 IU/ml to any airborne allergen. Any respiratory symptoms were reported by 90% and 31% used medium or high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), 20% low dose ICS whereas 20% had no treatment. 55% had controlled asthma, 32% partly controlled and 13% uncontrolled asthma.Conclusion: In this 15-year follow-up of adult onset asthma, the majority had persistent asthma. Smoking and high proportion using ICS may contribute to the stable lung function. Still, it should be noted that merely around every other had well controlled asthma.
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- Almqvist, Linnea, et al.
(author)
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No remission in 60% of those with childhood-onset asthma : a population-based cohort followed from 8 to 28 years of age
- 2024
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Saunders Elsevier. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 224
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Although remission occur, childhood-onset asthma may persist until adulthood. Since few longitudinal population-based studies have followed a cohort from childhood until adulthood, the knowledge on predictors of persistence of asthma is sparse.Aim: To estimate persistence of asthma from 8 to 28 years and its associated factors. Methods: Within the OLIN (Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden) studies, a cohort was recruited in 1996 (age 8y, n = 3430) and followed annually with questionnaires about asthma and risk factors until 19y. Clinical examinations included skin prick tests (at 8, 12 and 19y) and lung function tests (17 and 19y) whereof a subsample performed bronchial hyperreactivity test. We identified n = 248 with asthma at 8y whereof 170 (69%) participated in a follow-up at 28y (73% of possible to invite).Results: Of the 170 participants at 28y, 105 (61.8%) had persistent asthma (women: 49/76, 64.5%; men: 56/94, 59.6%, p = 0.513). Factors collected at recruitment: allergic sensitization (OR7.8, 95%CI 3.0–20.2), severe respiratory infection (OR2.6, 95%CI 1.1–6.3) and higher asthma severity score (OR1.6, 95%CI 1.1–2.4) were associated with asthma at 28y after adjustment for sex, family history of asthma, breastfeeding <3 months and eczema. Replacing allergic sensitization with rhinoconjunctivitis in the model yielded OR3.4 (95%CI 1.5–8.0). Bronchial hyperreactivity at age 17y associated with asthma at 28y (OR9.0, 95%CI 1.7–47.0).Conclusions: Among children with asthma onset by 8y, 62% still had asthma at age 28 years. Persistent asthma was associated with allergic sensitization, rhinoconjunctivitis, severe respiratory infection, a more severe asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity.
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- Almqvist, Linnéa, et al.
(author)
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Remission of adult-onset asthma is rare: a 15-year follow-up study
- 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: There are few long-term clinical follow-up studies of adult-onset asthma. The aim of this article was to study clinical characteristics of adult-onset asthma in relation to remission and persistence of the disease in a 15-year follow-up. Methods: A cohort of 309 adults aged 20-60 years with asthma onset during the last 12 months verified by bronchial variability, was recruited between 1995 and 1999 from the general population in northern Sweden. The cohort was followed-up in 2003 (n=250) and between 2012 and 2014 (n=205). Structured interviews and spirometry were performed at recruitment and the follow-ups. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and skin-prick tests were performed at recruitment and blood samples were collected at the last follow-up. Remission of asthma was defined as no asthma symptoms and no use of asthma medication during the last 12 months. Results: Of eight individuals in remission in 2003, five had relapsed between 2012 and 2014 and in total, 23 (11%) were in remission, while 182 had persistent asthma. Those in remission had higher mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted at recruitment than those with persistent asthma (94.6 versus 88.3, p=0.034), fewer had severe BHR (27.3% versus 50.9%, p=0.037) and they had less body mass index increase (+1.6 versus +3.0, p=0.054). Of those with persistent asthma, 13% had uncontrolled asthma and they had higher levels of blood neutrophils than those with partly controlled or controlled asthma. Conclusion: Higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted and less-severe BHR was associated with remission of adult-onset asthma, but still, the proportion in remission in this 15-year follow-up was low.
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- Broberg, Anders G, 1950, et al.
(author)
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Stöd till barn som bevittnat våld mot mamma - Resultat från en nationell utvärdering
- 2011
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Barn som bevittnar våld mot en förälder som de är beroende av för sitt välbefinnande utsätts för en form av våld. Barn behöver – i synnerhet under den tidiga barndomen – föräldrar som prioriterar barnets behov framför sina egna. När barnets ena förälder – eller någon annan som bor med familjen – slår eller förgriper sig på den andra föräldern blir barnet känslomässigt övergivet och skyddslöst. Barn kan bevittna våld mot en primär omsorgsgivare under kortare eller längre peri-oder i sitt liv, men ofta innebär det ett liv begränsat av olika typer av makt, övergrepp och förtryck. Sådana upplevelser medför en ökad risk för att barnet utvecklar problem såsom posttraumatisk stress, depression, beteendeproblem och problem med sociala relationer – både inom familjen och med kamrater. Sedan 2007 är socialtjänstens ansvar, för att barn som bevittnat våld får det stöd och den hjälp de behöver, förtydligat i Socialtjänstlagen. Det viktigaste stödet för barn som bevittnat våld mot sin mamma är skydd från fortsatt utsatthet. Internationellt sett är den vanligaste formen av stöd till barn, utöver sådant skydd, samtal i grupp. Det finns dock stora skillnader mellan vilka mål programmen är tänkta att uppnå, vilket medför att utvärderingsstudier använder varierande mått för att bedöma vad som är ett ”lyckat utfall”. Detta försvårar i sin tur jämförelser av utvärde-ringar av dessa program. I Sverige är den vanligaste typen av insats fortfarande indivi-duella samtal, även om gruppverksamheter för barn har blivit vanligare de senaste 10 åren. Kunskapen om effekterna av de metoder som utvecklats inom och utom social-tjänsten för att stödja barn som bevittnat våld mot mamma är fortfarande begränsad internationellt och i Sverige är den i stort sett obefintlig. Göteborgs universitet fick 2008 i uppdrag av Socialstyrelsen att utvärdera effekten av insatser riktade till barn som bevittnat våld mot sin mamma. Syftet med utvärderingen var att studera förändringar i barns hälsa och välbefinnande efter stödinsatser, med ut-gångspunkt i mammors och barns beskrivningar.
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- Cater, Åsa, 1971-, et al.
(author)
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Support to children who have witnessed violence against their mothers : results from a national evaluation study
- 2011
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In: Abstracts. - : Brottsoffermyndigheten. ; , s. 7-8
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Witnessing violence against a primary caregiver as a child entails a heightened risk of the child developing problems such as post-traumatic stress, depression, behavioural problems, or difficulties with social relationships. Knowledge about the effectiveness of methods developed to support children who have witnessed violence against their mothers is needed. This presentation reports the results from a national evaluation with the aim to study changes in the health and wellbeing of children after participating in support interventions.Eight group-based or individual support interventions directed at children who had witnessed violence against their mother from her partner were compared to: child and adolescent psychiatry, women’s shelters, and the social services, including the individual and family services, and family law. This report is based on mothers’ ratings of 295 children between 3 and 13 years of age, and self-ratings from 64 of these children, aged 9 to 13 years.The study is based on measurements at three times; before or in connection with the start of the intervention (pre-test), when the child had finished the intervention 4 to 6 months later (post-test), and one year after the child started the intervention (one-year follow-up). The mothers, and any 9 to 13-year-old children who agreed to participate, were interviewed and filled out questionnaires about psychological health and wellbeing. Measures included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), and measures of emotion regulation and general psychological well-being.The agencies offering support aimed directly at children tended to have better effect than agencies not providing support aimed at children. Generally, children with a high degree of psychological illness at pre-test improved more than children with fewer difficulties. However, the effect sizes were small, and at the one-year follow-up the mothers still rated their children’s psychological illness considerably higher compared to “children in general”. Further, children whose mothers had been subjected to physical violence during the last six months tended to have a more negative development in psychological health, younger children’s psychological health tended to improve more compared to older children’s, and longer interventions had better effect than shorter ones.According to the 9 to 13-year-old children’s own ratings, their symptoms regarding post traumatic stress and general anxiety symptom decreased considerably. The proportion of children with scores within the clinical range decreased from 43% at pre-test to 30% at the one-year follow-up. However, many children continued to have high degrees of symptoms at the one-year follow-up.The mothers whose children had been in contact with agencies offering interventions directly aimed at the children were significantly more satisfied with the interventions than other mothers. The mothers who had been in contact with agencies with group interventions for both children and mothers were the most satisfied. The children aged 9 to 13 years, of whom most had participated in groups for children who have witnessed violence, were generally satisfied or very satisfied with the interventions they had received.The implications of these results for practice are discussed.
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- Hedman, Linnea, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Early-life risk factors for development of asthma from 8 to 28 years of age : a prospective cohort study
- 2022
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In: ERJ Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society. - 2312-0541. ; 8:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The objective was to estimate the incidence rate of asthma from age 8 to 28 years and evaluate early-life risk factors for asthma onset at different ages.Methods: In 1996, within the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies, a cohort of 3430 schoolchildren (97% of invited) was recruited at age 8 years to a prospective study about asthma. The cohort was followed annually from age 8 to 19 years and at 28 years by questionnaire surveys (67% of the original cohort participated). Asthma was categorised as never-asthma, onset age ⩽8 years, onset age 9–13 years, onset age 14–19 years or onset age >19 years.Results: Of the 3430 individuals in the cohort, 690 (20.1%) reported asthma in any survey. The average incidence rate was 10.0/1000 per year at ⩽8 years, 11.9/1000 per year at 9–13 years, 13.3/1000 per year at 14–19 years and 6.1/1000 per year at >19 years. The incidence was higher among boys until age 10 years, but from age 15 years, it became higher among girls. Family history of asthma, allergic sensitisation and breastfeeding <3 months were associated with asthma onset throughout the study. Low birthweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, severe respiratory infection, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema were associated with asthma onset ⩽8 and 9–13 years.Conclusions: The incidence of asthma was high during childhood and the teenage period, and decreased substantially during young adulthood. Early-life factors were associated with asthma onset throughout childhood but had also a lasting effect on asthma incidence until adulthood.
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