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Long-term changes in adult asthma prevalence.
1Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. jan.brogger@med.uib.no
The European Respiratory Journal
|March 29, 2003
Summary
Adult asthma prevalence significantly increased between 1972 and 1999 in Oslo, Norway. This rise in asthma diagnosis and symptoms was particularly notable in younger adults and females.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Childhood asthma prevalence is rising, but adult trends are less understood.
- Long-term data on adult asthma prevalence is scarce.
- Understanding adult asthma trends is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate long-term changes in asthma prevalence among adults in Oslo, Norway.
- To compare asthma diagnosis and symptom prevalence between two distinct time periods.
- To identify demographic factors associated with changes in adult asthma.
Main Methods:
- Two cross-sectional population-based surveys conducted in Oslo, Norway (1972 and 1998-1999).
- Participants aged 15-70 years surveyed using identical postal self-completed questionnaires.
- Telephone follow-up for non-responders in the later survey to enhance data completeness.
Main Results:
- Crude asthma diagnosis prevalence rose from 3.4% to 9.3% over the study period.
- Wheezing prevalence increased from 17.8% to 25.8%, and breathlessness attacks from 12.6% to 16.7%.
- Adjusted asthma risk tripled for those under 40, with a 50% greater increase in females than males. Symptom increases were less pronounced than diagnosis increases.
Conclusions:
- Significant increase in adult asthma diagnosis and asthma-like symptoms observed in Oslo over 27 years.
- The rise in asthma was more pronounced in younger adults (<40 years) and females.
- Findings highlight a growing public health concern regarding adult asthma and its associated symptoms.