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Biomedical subjects

G Boman

Publications and source records attributed to G Boman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Eosinophil peroxidase: a new serum marker of atopy and bronchial hyper-responsiveness.

Do markers of eosinophil activation differ in their ability to detect subjects with atopy or bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR)? Comparisons of serum levels of eosinophil peroxidase (S-EPO), of eosinophil cationic protein (S-ECP) and the blood eosinophil count (B-Eos) have been made between 154 subjects aged 20-44 years, participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Uppsala, Sweden. Subjects with atopy had significantly higher levels of S-EPO and S-ECP than those without atopy (P <0 center dot 001). Subjects with BHR had significantly higher levels of S-EPO (P <0 center dot 001) and B-Eos (P <0 center dot 01) than subjects without BHR. Persons reporting asthma-related symptoms had significantly higher levels of S-EPO and B-Eos than subjects without such symptoms (P <0 center dot 001 and P <0 center dot 01, respectively). Asthma symptom score correlated significantly to S-EPO (r = 0 center dot 26, P <0 center dot 01), S-ECP (r = 0 center dot 20, P <0 center dot 05) and B-Eos (r = 0 center dot 18, P <0 center dot 05). Finally, S-EPO was significantly more sensitive than S-ECP for detecting subjects with BHR (P <0 center dot 05) and significantly more sensitive than B-Eos for detecting both subjects with BHR and subjects with a combination of atopy and BHR (P <0 center dot 05). It is concluded that S-EPO is a promising marker with a higher sensitivity for BHR than S-ECP or B-Eos. Further studies are needed to define the value of S-EPO when following disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Impact of inhaled corticosteroids on acute asthma hospitalization in Sweden 1978 to 1991.

OBJECTIVES: In clinical studies, it has been found that treating asthmatic patients with inhaled corticosteroids can reduce the need for in-patient care. The purpose of this study was to determine if such a relationship could be observed in available health-care statistics in Sweden and, if such a relationship could be established, what health economic consequences it implied. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using regional data on acute hospitalization-ie, number of bed-days in acute somatic in-patient care clinics-and sales of anti-asthmatic drugs from 14 health-care administrative regions, covering 6 million people (71% of the Swedish population) between 1978 and 1991. The data were analyzed in multiple regression analyses where time- and cross-section data were pooled. The variation in bed-days was explained by three variables: (1) the sales of inhaled corticosteroids, (2) the total number of bed-days within acute somatic in-patient care, and (3) the sales of inhaled bronchodilators, which were used as a proxy variable for asthma prevalence. RESULTS: The total number of bed-days due to asthma in the 14 county councils did not show any upward or downward trend between 1978 and 1985. However, after 1985, there was a significant downward trend despite an increase in estimated asthma prevalence. Increased sales of inhaled corticosteroids were significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with a reduction in bed-days due to asthma. The model used indicated that an increase in sales of inhaled corticosteroids by 1 defined daily dose (DDD) per day and 1,000 inhabitants gave, on average over the study period, a reduction of 1.5 bed-days for asthma in acute in-patient care per 1,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trial findings that treating asthmatic patients with inhaled corticosteroids improves asthma control and reduces the need for hospitalization, seem to be realized in clinical practice. The increased costs of inhaled corticosteroids to the health-care system were more than offset by a reduction in the costs for acute somatic hospital care.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1996

Skin prick tests and specific IgE in adults from three different areas of Sweden.

The aims of this part of the European Respiratory Health Survey were to estimate the prevalence of atopic sensitization to inhalant allergens among adults in three different areas of Sweden and to investigate the association between sensitization and certain risk factors. Randomly selected subjects aged 20-46 years from Göteborg, Uppsala, and Västerbotten were investigated with the skin prick test (SPT), analyses for specific IgE antibodies in serum (specific IgE) and total serum immunoglobulin E (total IgE), and a questionnaire. SPT was performed in 1572 subjects and analyses of specific IgE in 1470. One or more positive SPT were found in 35.6% and one or more positive specific IgE in 31.7%-approximately the same values in all three areas. Birch, grass, cat, and dog were the most frequent sensitizing agents and occurred at similar prevalences, i.e., around 15%, in all areas. The SPT to mite was positive in 14.1% in Göteborg, 7.4% in Uppsala, and 7.9% in Västerbotten. A positive SPT to pellitory of the wall (Parietaria), not described previously in Sweden, was found in 3.4% in Göteborg. Living in Göteborg was independently associated with a higher risk of a positive SPT to mite and Parietaria. Heredity, male sex, and low age were independently associated with atopy. Birth in the Scandinavian countries was independently associated with sensitization to cat, whereas birth in other countries was associated with sensitization to mite. The overall prevalence of atopy was similar in the three Swedish areas, but the sensitizing allergens varied. There is an indication that sensitization is increasing in the population, as low age was associated with sensitization. Sensitization to cat, but not to mite, appears to be particularly important in persons born in the Scandinavian countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in subjects with bronchial asthma: a population study of young adults in three European countries.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether asthma is associated with decreased quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. The study involved a random population of 2,202 subjects supplemented by 459 subjects with suspected asthma, aged 20-45 yrs. The subjects were from Reykjavik (Iceland), Uppsala and Göteborg (Sweden) and Antwerp (Belgium), and participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The investigation included a structured interview, methacholine challenge, skinprick tests and a questionnaire on sleep disturbances. Participants in Iceland and Sweden also estimated their sleep times and made peak expiratory flow (PEF) recordings during a period of 1 week. Asthma was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma with current asthma-related symptoms (n = 267). Difficulties inducing sleep (DIS) and early morning awakenings (EMA) were about twice as common, and daytime sleepiness 50% more common, in asthmatics compared with subjects without asthma. After adjusting for possible confounders, a positive association was found between asthma and: DIS (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8); EMA (OR = 2.0); daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.6); snoring (OR = 1.7); and self reported apnoeas (OR = 3.7). Allergic rhinitis, which was reported by 71% of subjects with asthma, was independently related to DIS (OR = 2.0) and daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.3). A significant correlation was found between the number of asthma-related symptoms and sleep disturbances (p < 0.001). Asthma is associated with decreased subjective quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. Concurrent allergic rhinitis may be an important underlying cause of sleep impairment in asthmatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Habitual coughing and its associations with asthma, anxiety, and gastroesophageal reflux.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Coughing was studied in relation to different disorders and objective variables indicative of airway inflammation. SETTING: A random sample of 800 persons, aged 20 to 44 years, was chosen from a larger cohort of participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Uppsala Sweden; of these, 623 participated. This sample was enriched with 201 individuals who reported asthma-related symptoms or the use of asthma medication. METHODS: The study comprised a structured interview, including questions about habitual (productive and nonproductive) and nocturnal coughing and spirometry, methacholine challenge, peak flow diary, skin prick tests, and measurements of blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein (S-ECP). RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was found between productive coughing and asthma (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 2.0), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.9), gastroesophageal reflux (OR = 4.4), smoking (OR = 1.9), and anxiety (OR = 1.8), while nonproductive coughing was related to female gender (OR = 1.8) and anxiety (OR = 1.7). Nocturnal coughing was positively correlated to female gender (OR = 1.8), smoking (OR = 1.9), and asthma (OR = 2.2). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was positively related to productive coughing (p < 0.001), nonproductive coughing, and nocturnal coughing (p < 0.05). S-ECP was significantly higher in individuals with nonproductive coughing compared with subjects without habitual coughing (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that habitual coughing has a significant association with different disease categories.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Serology of chlamydia in relation to asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Antibodies to the 3 strains of chlamydia were measured in the sera of 197 subjects; 122 with asthma-related symptoms and 75 from the general population. The subjects underwent a structured interview, spirometry, a methacholine provocation test and skin-prick tests. For chlamydia antibodies, IgG titer values of > or = 1:512 and/or IgM > or = 1:16 were regarded as evidence of a current or recent infection while IgG levels < 1:512 and > 1:32 were regarded as indicative of a previous infection. For Chlamydia pneumoniae, a relationship was found between current or recent infection and wheezing (odds ratio (OR) 6.0, confidence intervals (CI) 1.3-28) and also between IgA antibodies and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) (OR 3.3, CI 1.3-8.3). For Chlamydia trachomatis, serological signs of a previous infection were found significantly more often in subjects who reported having had asthma at some time: (OR 3.2, CI 1.4-7.1), asthma during the last year (OR 3.2, CI 1.4-7.1), wheezing during the last year (OR 4.2, CI 1.6-6.6) and in those who had BHR (OR 2.7, CI 1.2-6.1). We conclude that a relationship may exist between Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections and asthma-related symptoms and BHR.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Serology of respiratory viruses in relation to asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Do individuals with serological evidence of infections with respiratory viruses have an increased prevalence of asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR)? Antibodies to four common respiratory viruses were measured in the sera of 81 subjects without a history of a recent respiratory infection. The subjects underwent an interview, spirometry, a methacholine provocation test and skin prick tests. In sera where virus antibodies were found, IgG titer values of > or = 1:40 were regarded as evidence of a recent infection. A significant relationship was found between serological markers of a recent respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infection and physician diagnosed asthma (odds ratios (OR) 14.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.4-151) or BHR (OR 12.7, 95% CI 1.2-132)(p < 0.05). Furthermore, the total blood eosinophil count was significantly higher in subjects with serological signs of a current or recent RS virus infection than in those without such signs (364 +/- 198 x 10(6)/L and 175 +/- 118 x 10(6)/L respectively, p < 0.05). In conclusion, a recent RS viral infection may be an important factor in the induction of symptoms and signs suggestive of asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The prevalence of asthmatic respiratory symptoms among adults in Estonian and Swedish university cities.

The prevalence of atopy and related diseases is lower among children in Eastern European countries than in countries with a market economy. Such comparisons have not been made in adults. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) postal questionnaire was mailed to random samples of 3000 inhabitants in Tartu, Estonia, and 3600 in Uppsala, Sweden, between the ages of 20 and 44 years. Asthmatic symptoms (wheeze with breathlessness occurring in the absence of colds) were less prevalent in Tartu (4.6% vs 6.8%, P < 0.001), as were attacks of asthma (1.9% vs 3.3%, P < 0.01), current asthma medication (0.7% vs 4.9%), and allergic rhinitis (17.8% vs 22.2%, P < 0.001). Age was inversely related to allergic rhinitis in Uppsala (P < 0.05), but not in Tartu. Nocturnal respiratory symptoms (wakening with chest tightness or being woken by an attack of breathlessness or an attack of cough) were more prevalent in Tartu (P < 0.001), and their prevalence increased with age (P < 0.05) in Tartu, but not in Uppsala. Symptoms of asthma and hay fever were less common but other respiratory problems more common in Tartu than in Uppsala. The difference in the prevalence of hay fever diminished with age, supporting the notion that the increasing prevalence of allergy among children and young adults in Western Europe is caused by a cohort effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Asthmatic symptoms and indoor levels of micro-organisms and house dust mites.

As a part of a worldwide investigation on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, we have performed a study on the relationship between the indoor environment and asthma-like symptoms in the population of a central Swedish municipality. The study comprised 88 individuals, aged 20-45 years who underwent a structured interview, spirometry, a methacholine provocation test, skin-prick tests and blood samples for measurements of serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (S-ECP), blood eosinophil count and total immunoglobulin E (S-IgE). In the homes, the room temperature, air humidity, respirable dust, house dust mites (HDM) and airborne micro-organisms were measured. The relative humidity in all the homes was found to be above 33%. HDM were found in 13% of homes. In the homes of the 47 subjects with asthma related symptoms, significantly higher total levels of bacteria and mould (P < 0.05) and a higher proportion of detected HDM (OR = 5.3) was found than in subjects with no asthma related symptoms, after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, indoor temperature and air humidity. HDM were found to be an independent risk factor for asthma related symptoms (OR = 7.9) and nocturnal breathlessness (OR = 6.2) (P < 0.05), while the total level of bacteria was a risk factor for asthma related symptoms and wheezing (P < 0.05). We conclude that although HDM is relatively infrequently found in the homes of central-Sweden, the presence of HDM is related to asthmatic symptoms. A relation between levels of airborne bacteria and asthma related symptoms was also found.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Daytime sleepiness, snoring and gastro-oesophageal reflux amongst young adults in three European countries.

OBJECTIVES: To study the geographical variation in daytime sleepiness, snoring and disrupted breathing during sleep and to identify and compare risk factors using the same method in four European cities. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, multicentre epidemiological survey. SETTING: Reykjavik in Iceland, Uppsala and Göteborg in Sweden and Antwerp in Belgium. PARTICIPANTS: A random population sample of 2202 subjects who participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sleep disturbances and daytime symptoms. RESULTS: At all the centres, 5% of the men and 2-3% of the women reported snoring every night. Daytime sleepiness (DS) was more often reported in Uppsala [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval: 1.6 (1.2-2.1)] than in the other centres, whilst daytime tiredness (DT) was most common in Reykjavik [ OR 1.8 (1.4-2.1)]. Snoring was positively correlated with age, male gender and body-mass index in all areas. Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux were associated with DS: OR 2.6 (1.5 4.4) and DT: OR 4.5 (2.7-7.6) and disrupted breathing: OR 3.8 (1.4-10). DS and DT were reported more often by women than by men. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of snoring was about the same in all four areas, whilst there was a geographical variation in daytime sleepiness and tiredness. As complaints of DS and DT and disrupted breathing were more common in subjects who reported symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, we suggest that polysomnographic studies comparing sleep patterns in adult patients with and without reflux should be conducted.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Asthmatic symptoms and volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide in dwellings.

OBJECTIVES: As a part of the worldwide European Community respiratory health survey, possible relations between symptoms of asthma, building characteristics, and indoor concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in dwellings were studied. METHODS: The study comprised 88 subjects, aged 20-45 years, from the general population in Uppsala, a mid-Swedish urban community, selected by stratified random sampling. Room temperature, air humidity, respirable dust, carbon dioxide (CO2), VOCs, formaldehyde, and house dust mites were measured in the homes of the subjects. They underwent a structured interview, spirometry, peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements at home, methacholine provocation test for bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and skin prick tests. In addition, serum concentration of eosinophilic cationic protein (S-ECP), blood eosinophil count, and total immunoglobulin E (S-IgE) were measured. RESULTS: Symptoms related to asthma were more common in dwellings with house dust mites, and visible signs of dampness or microbial growth in the building. Significant relations were also found between nocturnal breathlessness and presence of wall to wall carpets, and indoor concentration of CO2, formaldehyde, and VOCs. The formaldehyde concentration exceeded the Swedish limit value for dwellings (100 micrograms/m3) in one building, and CO2 exceeded the recommended limit value of 1000 ppm in 26% of the dwellings, showing insufficient outdoor air supply. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was related to indoor concentration of limonene, the most prevalent terpene. Variability in PEF was related to two other terpenes; alpha-pinen and delta-karen. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that indoor VOCs and formaldehyde may cause asthma-like symptoms. There is a need to increase the outdoor air supply in many dwelling, and wall to wall carpeting and dampness in the building should be avoided. Improved indoor environment can also be achieved by selecting building materials, building construction, and indoor activities on the principle that the emission of volatile organic compounds should be as low as reasonably achievable, to minimise symptoms related to asthma due to indoor air pollution.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of protriptyline, 10 mg daily, on chronic hypoxaemia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A daily dose of 20 mg of protriptyline can improve daytime arterial blood gas tensions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its usefulness is limited by anticholinergic side-effects. This study examined whether a daily dose of 10 mg of protriptyline improved daytime arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and quality of life in patients with stable mild or moderate hypoxaemia caused by COPD. Twenty six patients were randomized to receive protriptyline or placebo in a double-blind parallel-group trial for 12 weeks, following a run-in period of 4 weeks, in order to assess the stability of hypoxaemia. Patients with a change in PaO2 of > 0.7 kPa during the run-in were excluded. Spirometry, quality of life and dyspnoea score were measured at randomization and after 12 weeks, whilst arterial blood gas tensions were also measured 2 and 6 weeks after randomization. No improvement in arterial blood gas tensions, spirometry values, dyspnoea score, or quality of life was found in either the protriptyline or the placebo group. The majority of patients receiving protriptyline experienced anticholinergic side-effects, which necessitated the withdrawal of the drug in one patient. We conclude that there was no evidence that a daily dose of 10 mg of protriptyline had a significant effect on daytime arterial oxygen tension in stable mild and moderate hypoxaemia caused by COPD. Despite the low dose, anticholinergic side-effects occurred in most patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Effects of positive expiratory pressure (PEP), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and hyperventilation in COPD patients with chronic hypercapnea.

We have studied the effects of positive expiratory pressure (PEP), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and hyperventilation on 9 hypoxemic and hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. All the patients were in a stable condition and received continuous oxygen. PEP and nasal CPAP were each given for 3 days in random order once every hour during the day and 3 times overnight. The effects of treatment were compared with a 3-day period in which the patients had no treatment for CO2 elimination. The effects were based on transcutaneous measurements of PO2 (PtcO2), PCO2 (PtcCO2) and SO2 (SpO2) and arterial blood gas measurements. The transcutaneous measurements showed that the PEP treatment reduced the PtcCO2 in COPD patients by 0.5 kPa and the CPAP treatment reduced it by 0.1 kPa (p < 0.05). The hyperventilation maneuver caused a decrease in the PtcCO2 of 0.7 kPa. The nocturnal treatments and measurements were all similar to the daytime measurements; the PtcCO2 decreased by 0.6 kPa using PEP and by 0.3 kPa using CPAP (p < 0.01). This indicated that all 3 methods reduced the PtcCO2, but only in the short term as the effects lasted for less than 4 min. COPD patients had no "late response" after any form of treatment. Arterial blood gases in COPD patients showed an elevation in PaCO2 (1.2 kPa) and a decrease in PaO2 and SaO2 during the night (11 pm to 7 am) without treatment. After 3 days of treatment with PEP and CPAP, the same pattern was noticed. The PaCO2 increased with both therapies, 1.3 kPa with PEP and 0.6 kPa with CPAP. Our data indicate that the effects were not of clinical significance and there is no justification for treating stable hypercapnic COPD patients with these methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of sleep disturbances among young adults in three European countries.

The aim of this investigation was to study the geographic variation in sleep complaints and to identify risk factors for sleep disturbances in three European countries: Iceland (Reykjavik), Sweden (Uppsala and Göteborg) and Belgium (Antwerp). The study involved a random population of 2,202 subjects (age 20-45 years) who participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The subjects answered a questionnaire on sleep disturbances. Participants in Iceland and Sweden also estimated their sleep habits and sleep times during a period of 1 week in a sleep diary. Habitual (> or = 3/week) difficulties inducing sleep (DIS) were reported by 6-9% and early morning awakenings by 5-6% of the subjects. The estimated number of awakenings and the prevalence of nightmares was significantly lower in Reykjavik. Participants in Reykjavik went to bed at night and woke in the morning approximately 1 hour later than participants at the Swedish centers (p < 0.001). Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were associated with DIS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7), nightmares (OR = 4.4), longer sleep latency and frequent nocturnal awakenings. Smoking correlated positively to DIS (OR = 1.8) and estimated sleep latency. We conclude that the prevalence of DIS was fairly similar at these four European centers but that there was a variation in the prevalence of nightmares and nocturnal awakenings. The significant correlation between reported GER and subjective quality of sleep should be followed up in studies using objective measurements.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Serum eosinophil cationic protein in relation to bronchial asthma in a young Swedish population.

How are the serum concentration of eosinophil cationic protein (S-ECP) and the blood eosinophil count (B-Eos) related to symptoms of asthma, allergy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR)? We measured S-ECP, B-Eos, and total and specific IgE in serum in blood samples from 699 randomly selected persons 20-44 years old. They also underwent a structured interview, spirometry, a methacholine provocation test, and skin prick tests as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. B-Eos and S-ECP were found to be closely related to asthma symptom score (P < 0.001), total IgE (P < 0.001), and BHR (P < 0.001). On the basis of the results, the subjects were divided into four groups: healthy controls, patients with allergic rhinitis, patients with nonallergic asthma, and patients with allergic asthma. There were significant differences in both B-Eos and S-ECP among the groups (P < 0.001), the highest values being found in the allergic asthma group. B-Eos and S-ECP each had an additive value in predicting the occurrence of asthma. Among persons with high concentrations of both variables, asthma was eight times more common than in those with low concentrations. Allergy and BHR were also found to be independently related to B-Eos and S-ECP levels. Furthermore, both B-Eos and S-ECP showed good correlation to subjective and objective measures of asthma activity. We conclude that both B-Eos and S-ECP and their interrelationship may be of value in assessing the activity of asthma. However, their role in disease management was not established in this cross-sectional study.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Anxiety and depression in relation to respiratory symptoms and asthma.

The aim of this investigation was to study the relationship between psychologic status and respiratory health. The study comprised 715 persons aged 22 to 44 who participated in the European Commission Respiratory Health Survey. The study included a structural interview, spirometry, methacholine challenge, peak flow diary, skin prick test, and measurement of eosinophil activity in peripheral blood. The psychologic status was assessed by means of the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale questionnaire. A significant correlation was found between anxiety and depression and the report of asthma-related symptoms, such as attacks of breathlessness after activity and waking with attacks of breathlessness (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant correlation between anxiety or depression and a self-reported diagnosis of asthma or objective asthma-related variables, such as peak flow variability or response to methacholine. When evaluating the combined influence of psychologic factors and objective variables, HAD score correlated independently with reported wheezing (p < 0.05), waking with attacks of breathlessness (p < 0.01), waking with chest tightness, attacks of breathlessness when at rest, and attacks of breathlessness after activity (p < 0.001). We conclude that there is an association between reported respiratory symptoms and psychologic status. However, there was no evidence that patients with diagnosed bronchial asthma had more anxiety and depression than those without asthma. This result indicates that it may be valuable to include psychologic status indicators in respiratory symptom questionnaires.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Symptoms related to asthma and chronic bronchitis in three areas of Sweden.

Does the prevalence of respiratory symptoms differ between regions? As a part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, we present data from an international questionnaire on asthma symptoms occurring during a 12 month period, smoking and symptoms of chronic bronchitis. The questionnaire was mailed to 10,800 persons aged 20-44 yrs living in three regions of Sweden (Västerbotten, Uppsala and Göteborg) with different environmental characteristics. The total response rate was 86%. Wheezing was reported by 20.5%, and the combination of wheezing without a cold and wheezing with breathlessness by 7.4%. The use of asthma medication was reported by 5.3%. Long-term cough and/or morning cough together with problems with phlegm was reported by 12.8%; the prevalence being highest in the most polluted area (Göteborg). When using multivariate analysis, no significant difference in asthma-related symptoms was found between the centres. Women reported cough more frequently, but otherwise gender did not influence symptom prevalence. Our results indicate that bronchitis symptoms occur more frequently in Göteborg, the most polluted of the Swedish centres, but that the prevalence rates of asthma-related symptoms do not differ between these three regions.

Adult↗