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Biomedical subjects

A Gulsvik

Publications and source records attributed to A Gulsvik.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Fish consumption and respiratory symptoms among young adults in a Norwegian community.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fish consumption and self-reported respiratory symptoms among young adults. A random sample of 4,300 subjects, aged 20-44 yrs, living in Bergen, Norway, received a postal questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, of whom 80% responded. Mean fish consumption was assessed in a food-frequency questionnaire by asking how often the subject consumed units of fish (150 g) during the last year. Average fish consumption was 1.8 units x week(-1). Fish intake of <1 unit x week(-1) was reported by 24%, 41% reported consumption of 1 unit x week(-1) and 35% intake of >1 unit x week(-1). A high fish intake was significantly associated with increasing age after adjusting for smoking. Adjusted for smoking habits, the prevalence of "cough at night" and "chest tightness" showed a decreasing trend with increasing fish consumption (p<0.05), while such a trend for "wheeze" was demonstrated only in smokers (p=0.008 for interaction). In logistic regression models (adjusting for age, sex, body mass, smoking habits and occupational exposure) fish consumption (three categories) was not significantly associated with "wheeze", "chest tightness", "breathless at night" or "asthma attack", although the odds ratios (OR) were consistently less than 1 (except for "asthma attack"). Fish consumption was of borderline significance as a protective factor of "cough at night", OR = 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.97) but in stratified analyses only in smokers. Subjects reporting very high levels of fish consumption (>14 units x week(-1)) did not have lower prevalences of respiratory symptoms. In conclusion, among young Norwegian adults, with a relatively low prevalence of asthma and an overall high fish intake, fish consumption was not a significant predictor of four out of five respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Birth characteristics and asthma symptoms in young adults: results from a population-based cohort study in Norway.

There is evidence that the origin of obstructive lung disease may be traced back to foetal life. The associations between birth characteristics and asthma symptoms were studied in a random population sample of young Norwegian adults. Respiratory symptoms were recorded in a population-based questionnaire survey. The records of all subjects aged 20-24 yrs were linked with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Of 868 subjects born in Norway, there were 690 (79%) responders. The associations between asthma symptoms and birth characteristics were analysed by logistic regression, adjusted for possible confounding factors. Asthma symptoms in young adults were inversely associated with birth weight (odds ratio (OR)wheeze=0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.69-0.96x500 g increase in birth weight(-1))), and after adjustment for gestational age, birth length, parity and maternal age (ORwheeze=0.69; 95% CI=0.50-0.95x500 g increase in birth weight(-1)). The association did not vary according to adult smoking habits or atopic status and remained when premature and low weight births were excluded (ORwheeze=0.73; 95% CI=0.60-0.90x500 g increase in birth weight(-1)). The association was consistent for all asthma symptoms. Adjusted for birth weight, asthma symptoms were further associated with low gestational age, high birth length and low maternal age. In a random sample of young adults, asthma symptoms were strongly associated with low birth weight, an association driven by the full-term births within the normal birth weight range. The findings show that the risk for adult asthma is partly established early in life and suggest that poor intrauterine growth is involved in the aetiology of asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Is it possible to predict nocturnal hypoxemia in snorers?].

We investigated to what extent the initial outpatient clinical findings could predict the results of in-patient nocturnal pulse oximetry in 108 snorers. 30.6% of the patients had oxygen desaturation index (ODI) > or = 5. The lowest SpO2 dip was strongly correlated to ODI (R2 = 0.729). Body mass index (BMI) and FVC were independently correlated to ODI. Relative risk of nocturnal hypoxemia was 3.2 at BMI > 32.0 kg/m2, and 3.0 at FVC < 87% of predicted value, compared with the whole referred group of snorers. Sensitivity of reported apnoea was 0.91, but specificity was only 0.21 with respect to hypoxaemia. Age, sex, hypersomnolence, morning headache, nasal congestion, smoking and consumption of alcohol or sedatives were not predictive of nocturnal hypoxaemia, neither were erythrocyte volume fraction, PaO2, nor PaCO2.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Changing prevalence of asthma in school children: evidence for diagnostic changes in asthma in two surveys 13 yrs apart.

It is still unclear whether the reported increase in the prevalence of asthma is real or due to changes in diagnostic criteria. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of diagnosed asthma with the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and to compare the association between asthma and other atopic diseases in 1981 and 1994. The study populations comprised randomly selected school classes in Oslo in 1981 (n=1,772) and 1994 (n=2,577). The main outcomes in these comparable cross-sectional studies of children, 6-16 yrs of age, were parent-reported prevalence of diagnosed asthma, respiratory symptoms, eczema and hay fever. The questionnaire was identical in 1981 and 1994. The response rates were 94% (1,674 out of 1,772) in 1981 and 85% (2,188 out of 2,577) in 1994. The lifetime prevalence of asthma increased from 3.4% in 1981 to 9.3% in 1994; odds ratio (OR) 2.9 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.1-4.0) comparing 1994 to 1981. The prevalence of occasional wheezing increased from 9.0 to 10.8%; OR 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5), and attacks of wheezing from 3.7 to 6.8%; OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.5). Survival analyses for 3 year birth cohorts showed that asthma was more readily diagnosed in the latest birth cohort (1985-1988). The association between asthma and other atopic diseases decreased during the period under study. The increase in diagnosed asthma and respiratory symptoms supports a true increase in asthma. However, the larger increase in diagnosed asthma than wheezing and a reduced association between asthma and other atopic diseases suggest that the increase in asthma may be explained, in part, by changes in diagnostic criteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The semi-proportional hazards model revisited: practical reparametrizations.

Reformulations of the semi-proportional hazards model are outlined making estimation and testing of stratum-covariate interaction effects easily accessible within the framework of the stratified Cox proportional hazards model. The method is illustrated by a practical analysis of variables influencing bronchial responsiveness with data from the Hordaland study of obstructive lung disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Serum respiratory virus antibodies: predictor of reduced one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in Norwegian adults.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether the presence of serum complement antibodies was associated with reduced one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in adults. METHODS: From a stratified random sample of 18-73 year old adults, we performed measurements of serum complement fixing virus antibodies against influenza type A and B, parainfluenza type 1, 2, and 3, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus on 82% (n = 1239). RESULTS: In the crude data, subjects having five of the seven virus antibodies had significantly lower lung function, given as sex-, age- and height-standardized residuals of FEV1 (SFEV1), compared with those without. After adjusting in addition for smoking habits, lifetime smoking consumption and season, the lung function levels were significantly lower in subjects with influenza type B and respiratory syncytial virus antibodies compared to those without (P < 0.01). Increasing influenza and respiratory syncytial virus antibody titres and increasing numbers of virus antibodies, respectively, were related to progressively lower lung function. Subjects with respiratory symptoms but without obstructive lung disease had lower antibody levels than subjects with obstructive lung disease, but higher levels than asymptomatic subjects. In a final multiple linear regression analysis adjusting in addition for respiratory symptom and disease status as well as for the other respiratory virus antibodies, the presence of respiratory syncytial virus antibodies was a significant predictor for reduced SFEV1 (regression coefficient: -0.226; SE = 0.112; P = 0.04). The magnitude of the effect on lung function remained after excluding subjects reporting symptoms of respiratory infection within 3 weeks prior to the examination (regression coefficient: -0.252; SE = -0.218; P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional community study indicates that respiratory syncytial virus infection or re-infection is an independent predictor for reduced lung function in adults of a wide age range.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Serum house dust mite antibodies: predictor of increased bronchial responsiveness in adults of a community.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies was associated with increased bronchial responsiveness in adults. We studied cross-sectionally a random community sample of 18-73 year old adults, of whom 83% (n = 489) performed bronchial responsiveness testing as well as serum measurements of five specific IgE antibodies. In the crude data, 39% of those with house dust mite antibodies (n = 18) had a bronchial responsiveness < or = 32 g.L-1 methacholine compared with 19% in subjects without any of the five specific IgE antibodies (n = 453). The corresponding percentages for subjects with timothy antibodies (n = 16) was 25%, birch antibodies (n = 13) 23%, cat antibodies (n = 10) 40% and mould antibodies (n = 2) 50%. When assessing the multivariate relationship between the presence of one specific IgE antibody and degree of bronchial responsiveness we used a semi-proportional hazards model with the response as a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from pretest value. Covariates included in the model were: gender, age, pretest FEV1, smoking habits, pack-years, season and other specific IgE antibodies than that examined. The presence of house dust mite antibodies was a significant predictor (p < 0.01) of increased bronchial responsiveness in never- and ex-smokers. Indoor allergic sensitization (house dust mite, cat and mould) was a significant predictor of increased bronchial responsiveness, while outdoor allergic sensitization (timothy and birch) was not. Excluding subjects with obstructive lung disease (n = 39) or including the covariate log total serum IgE as a potential confounder yielded the same result. Thus, in this community, indoor allergic sensitization rather than allergic sensitization per se was related to increased bronchial responsiveness after adjusting for other relevant covariates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Swimming-induced asthma].

Swimming is said to have low asthmogeneity especially when compared with other physical activities. Four young athletes who participated in heavy swimming exercise are reported as having symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Three of them started to develop the symptoms after several years of training and had no former history of asthma. In the fourth, the asthma was diagnosed in childhood but the EIA-symptoms here exacerbated by swimming. All four experienced more symptoms when the air in the swimming pool was warm, or when there was a strong smell of chlorine. Two of the athletes reported having no symptoms when they swam in outdoor pools and had only minor symptoms, or none at all, when they did other formes of physical exercise, including running. In all four their swimming performance was hampered by their respiratory symptoms. Two of the swimmers improved when they inhaled steroids and adrenerg-beta 2 agonists, and continued their swimming carrier. The cases suggest that an irritant may provoke asthma symptoms in susceptible swimmers. Volatile compounds from chlorination of the pools are suspected as possible irritant agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Educational level and obstructive lung disease given smoking habits and occupational airborne exposure: a Norwegian community study.

The relation of educational level to obstructive lung disease, spirometric airflow limitation, and respiratory symptoms was examined in a two-phase cross-sectional study of a Norwegian general population aged 18-73 years in 1985-1988. The first phase was a questionnaire survey. In the second phase, a stratified sample of those who responded in the first phase was invited to a clinical and respiratory physiologic examination. Altogether, 714 subjects attended, representing 84% of those invited. The prevalences of obstructive lung disease and spirometric airflow limitation were 7.8% and 4.5%, respectively. A total of 18% of the population had completed college, a further 60% had completed secondary school, and 21% had obtained a primary school education alone. The prevalence of both smoking and occupational airborne exposure decreased with increasing educational level. The sex-, age-, smoking-, and occupational exposure-adjusted odds ratio of obstructive lung disease in primary-versus university-educated subjects was 2.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-6.5); in secondary- versus university-educated subjects it was 1.4 (95% CI 0.7-2.8). The corresponding values for spirometric airflow limitations were 5.2 (95% CI 2.0-13.4) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.7). All of the respiratory symptoms except breathlessness grade 2 were significantly associated with educational level after allowing for sex, age, smoking, and occupational airborne exposure. The survey indicates that educational level is a risk factor for airway disorders independent of smoking and occupational airborne exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory virus antibodies in adults of a Norwegian community: prevalences and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The aims were to examine prevalences as well as demographic and environmental predictors of respiratory virus antibodies in serum. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 18-73 year old Norwegian adults a random stratified sample (n = 1512) was invited to attend an examination at an outpatient clinic. Seven respiratory virus antibodies were assessed by the complement fixation test. RESULTS: The attendance rate was 84%. The most frequent virus antibodies with titre of > or = 1:8 were influenza virus type A with a population standardized prevalence of 44%, adenovirus 25% and influenza virus type B 22%. The prevalences of antibodies against parainfluenza virus type 1, 2 and 3 increased with age. Smokers compared to non-smokers had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-2.4) for having one or more of the seven examined virus antibodies. The presence of one or more of the virus antibodies increased from summer to winter months (adjusted OR = 1.3 per month; 95% CI: 1.2-1.4) and it was higher in occupational dust or gas exposed smokers (adjusted OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.7) compared with unexposed smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Ageing, smoking, occupational dust or gas exposure as well as season of the year may thus be predictors for levels of respiratory virus antibodies in adults. These observations should be taken into account when comparing prevalences of virus antibodies in various communities as well as when examining the relationship between presence of virus antibodies and airway disease.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1995

Total serum IgE and FEV1 by respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung disease in adults of a Norwegian community.

BACKGROUND: The importance of total serum IgE level on lung function impairment has not been established in a general population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional community study was to examine the relationship between total serum IgE and level of lung function in adults, and whether this relationship differed by sex, age, smoking habits or by respiratory symptoms and disease status. METHODS: A stratified random sample of 18-73 year old adults from the general population were invited to spirometry and serum analyses of total and specific IgE. Of 1512 subjects invited, 82% met and performed complete examinations. RESULTS: Increasing level of total serum IgE was related to reduced lung function (P < 0.01) given as sex, age, and height standardized residuals of one second forced expiratory volume (SFEV1). Subjects with total serum IgE in the highest vs the lowest tertile had a mean SFEV1 of -0.28, corresponding to age and height adjusted FEV1 differences of 120 and 150 mL in women and men, respectively. The relationship between IgE and lung function impairment did not differ significantly by sex, age or smoking habits. In subjects with obstructive lung disease increasing level of total serum IgE was more negatively associated with lung function level than in subjects with respiratory symptoms alone. No relationship was observed in asymptomatic subjects. This was confirmed in a multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for sex, age, smoking habits and lifetime smoking consumption showing that SFEV1 was predicted by an interaction between total serum IgE level and symptom and disease status (P < 0.01). This interaction remained after excluding subjects (n = 105) having specific IgE antibodies. CONCLUSION: Increasing total serum IgE level was associated with progressively lower lung function in a general adult population after taking other predictors of impaired spirometric lung function into account, though dependent on the subjects' respiratory symptom and disease status. Variation in prevalences of respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung disease in previous examined populations may thus explain conflicting observations of the association between total IgE and airflow impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Predictors of spirometric test failure: a comparison of the 1983 and 1993 acceptability criteria from the European Community for Coal and Steel.

OBJECTIVES: To identify, in this general population study, predictors of spirometric test failure on the 1983 and 1993 acceptability criteria from the European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS). METHODS: All men aged 30-46 years living in western Norway (n = 45,380) were invited to join a cross sectional community survey. Respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and marital status were found from self administered questionnaires, and measurements of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were performed with dry wedge bellow spirometers. RESULTS: Altogether 29,611 subjects (65%) participated in this survey. Spirometric recordings were obtained in 26,803 of these (91%) of whom 1.6% failed the 1983 criterion (< or = 300 ml between the two highest FVC values) and 9.5% failed the 1993 criteria (< or = 5% or 100 ml between the two highest FEV1 and the two highest FVC values). Spirometric failures on both criteria were more prevalent in never smokers, single men, and subjects with respiratory symptoms than in ever smokers, married, and asymptomatic subjects. Failure of the 1993 criteria increased with age and declining height. Morning cough and phlegm, breathlessness uphill, attacks of breathlessness, and wheezing were related to failure of the 1993 criteria after adjustment for demographic variables and smoking, whereas only breathlessness uphill was related to failure of the 1983 criterion. CONCLUSIONS: In men aged 30-46 years, spirometric test failures on both the 1983 and 1993 ECCS acceptability criteria occurred more often in never smokers than in smokers and ex-smokers after adjustment for other covariables. Spirometric test failure with the 1993 criteria also varied with height and most respiratory symptoms. The higher failure rates found in non-smokers, in shorter, and in single men could be due to late compression of the airways, smaller lung volumes, and poor general health, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Serum house-dust-mite antibodies and reduced FEV1 in adults of a Norwegian community.

In this cross-sectional study we investigated whether the presence of specific serum IgE antibodies to house dust mite, timothy, birch, cat, and mold was associated with a reduced FEV1 in adults. We performed complete examinations on 82% of a stratified random sample of 18 to 73-yr-old adults (n = 1,239). Subjects with house-dust-mite antibodies had lower (p = 0.002) sex, age, and height standardized residuals of FEV1 (SFEV1) than those without any specific IgE antibody. This relationship did not differ significantly by sex, age, smoking habit, total serum IgE level, or season, and remained significant after excluding subjects with obstructive lung disease. For house-dust-mite antibodies we also observed a dose-response relationship between antibody levels and impaired lung function. In a final multiple linear regression analysis the presence of house-dust-mite antibodies was the only significant predictor (regression coefficient: -0.425; SE = 0.189; p = 0.02) of reduced SFEV1 after adjusting for smoking habit and lifetime tobacco consumption, season, total serum IgE level, and respiratory-symptom and disease status. Thus, house-dust-mite allergy is an independent predictor of reduced lung function in adults of a wide age range.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The efficacy and tolerability of inhaled salmeterol and individually dose-titrated, sustained-release theophylline in patients with reversible airways disease.

In a double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over, multicentre study, 141 patients with moderate reversible airways disease were randomized to receive either 50 micrograms salmeterol via a metered dose inhaler or individually dose-titrated oral theophylline, both twice daily for a 2-week period. Just over half (n = 77) the patients had received theophylline before, but 64 patients were new to theophylline therapy. Efficacy was based on lung function data and symptom scores. Salmeterol produced significantly higher increase in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) of 161 min-1 (P < 0.001; 95% Confidence Interval (CI); 8-241 min-1) and mean evening PEF of 151 min-1 (p < 0.001; 95% CI; 7-221 min-1) compared with theophylline therapy. Further analysis of the data revealed that the increase in PEF with salmeterol compared with theophylline was highest in a sub-group of patients new to theophylline therapy. Patients on salmeterol had significantly less night-time awakenings than those on theophylline (P = 0.011) and significantly less daytime symptoms (P = 0.017). There was also a significant increase in the number of nights (P = 0.013) and days (P < 0.001) on salmeterol when no additional salbutamol was required compared with theophylline. Theophylline produced a higher incidence of adverse events compared with salmeterol. The results of this study show that inhaled salmeterol is more effective and better tolerated than individually dose-titrated oral theophylline over a 2-week study period in patients with moderate asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗