[Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and use of asthma drugs are increasing among young adult Icelanders].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

In the year 1990 the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I (ECRHS I) demonstrated that the prevalence of these diseases was lowest in Iceland (www.ecrhs.org). In order to compare the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in Reykjavik over time, a new identical cross-sectional study was performed seventeen years later.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Both cohorts, were in the age group 20-44 years and randomly selected from the population in Reykjavik and suburbs. Both answered questionnaires about respiratory symptoms, nasal allergy and use of anti-asthmatic drugs. The second cohort was part of the EuroPrevall study (www.europrevall.org) performed in 2007.

RESULTS:

Response rate was lower in 2007 (999 or 43.2%) than in 1990 (2.903 or 80.6%).The prevalence of attacks of asthma increased over time from 2.2% to 6.7% (p<0.0001), use of anti-asthmatic drugs increased from 2.4% to 7.2% (p<0.0001) and nasal allergy symptoms from 17.8% to 29.3% (p< 0.0001). There was an increase of all respiratory symptoms except wheezing or whistling, where the prevalence dropped from 18.0% to 14.4% (p<0.01). In the year 2007 women had more often been woken by attacks of coughing (p<0.0001), had more often attacks of asthma (p<0.05) and were more likely to use anti-asthmatic drugs (p<0.05) than men. Attacks of asthma and the use of anti-asthmatic drugs were more common among the younger age group in the year 2007. That was not seen in the year 1990.

CONCLUSION:

This study provides evidence of an increase in respiratory symptoms and use of anti-asthmatic drugs over a period of 17 years from 1990 among young adult Icelanders.

• Authors: Stefan Sigurkarlsson, Michael Clausen, Thorarinn Gislason, David Gislason
• Journal: Laeknabladid (Laeknabladid) Vol. 97 Issue 9 Pg. 463-7 (09 2011) ISSN: 0023-7213 [Print] Iceland
• Vernacular Title: Aukning ondunarfaeraeinkenna og notkunar astmalyfja medal Islendinga a aldrinum 20-44 ara.
• PMID: 21911911 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Asthmatic Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Anti-Asthmatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Asthma (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Drug Utilization
• Female
• Humans
• Iceland
• Male
• Practice Patterns, Physicians'
• Prevalence
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult