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Background: Onset of allergic asthma has a strong association with childhood but only a few studies have analyzed incidence of asthma from childhood to late adulthood in relation to allergy. The purpose of the study was to assess age-specific incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma.Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 8000 randomly selected recipients aged 20-69 years in Finland in 2016. The response rate was 52.3% (n = 4173). The questionnaire included questions on e.g. atopic status, asthma and age at asthma diagnosis. Asthma was classified allergic if also a physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis was reported.Results: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis were 11.2 and 17.8%, respectively. Of the 445 responders with physician-diagnosed asthma, 52% were classified as allergic and 48% as non-allergic. Median ages at diagnosis of allergic and non-allergic asthma were 19 and 35 years, respectively. Among subjects with asthma diagnosis at ages 0-9, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 years, 70, 62, 58, 53, 38, 19 and 33%, respectively, were allergic. For non-allergic asthma, the incidence rate was lowest in children and young adults (0.7/1000/year). It increased after middle age and was highest in older age groups (2.4/1000/year in 50-59 years old).Conclusions: The incidence of allergic asthma is highest in early childhood and steadily decreases with advancing age, while the incidence of non-allergic asthma is low until it peaks in late adulthood. After approximately 40 years of age, most of the new cases of asthma are non-allergic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is globally a major, but often undiagnosed, cause of morbidity and mortality. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of COPD in Helsinki, Finland, with international diagnostic criteria and to analyse risk factors including socioeconomic status, and disease severity. Methods: A general population sample of 628 adults (368 women) completed flow-volume spirometry with bronchodilation test and a structured interview. Post-bronchodilation spirometry was assessed both using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria and relative to the fifth percentile of the reference value (lower limit of normal, LLN). Results: According to GOLD criteria, 37 (5.9%), and by using the LLN criteria, 43 subjects (6.8%) had airway obstruction consistent with COPD. Using the GOLD criteria, four subjects or 0.6% of the population had severe, 3.0% moderate, and 2.2% mild COPD. Of those with post-bronchodilator obstruction, 49% had no previous diagnosis of obstructive airways disease and did not use medication for any respiratory disease. The prevalence of undiagnosed COPD defined by GOLD was 2.9% (LLN 3.3%). In addition to age, smoking history, and prior history of asthma, socioeconomic status based on occupation was significantly related to COPD in the population. Manual workers in industry (GOLD 10.0%, LLN 11.7%) and non-manual assistant employees (10.2%, 10.2%) had a significantly higher prevalence of COPD than professionals (2.8%, 2.3%). Conclusions: Although smoking is the main modifiable risk factor for COPD, the disease was significantly related to manual workers and non-manual assistant employees, i.e. socioeconomic groups reflecting occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives. To assess the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in a population of north Finland among subjects with no previous diagnosis of asthma or chronic bronchitis by using histamine and methacholine challenges. The agreement between the methods was also evaluated. Study design. An epidemiological study assessing the prevalence of BHR measured with 2 direct dosimetric challenge methods. Methods. Seventy-nine randomly selected subjects (21-73 years) were studied; 67% had respiratory or allergic symptoms. The baseline spirometry was normal or showed mild obstruction. Bronchial challenges to methacholine and histamine were performed on each subject in a randomized order. Provocative doses inducing the decrease of FEV1 by 15% and 2 0% (PD15FEV1 and PD20FEV1) and dose response ratios (DDR) were calculated for both tests. Results. BHR with the methacholine test (PD20FEV1≤2.6 mg) was found in 20% and with the histamine test (PD15FEV1≤1.6 mg) in 28% of subjects; the agreement was 80% (kappa 0.45; 95% CI 0.23-0.68). In staging the severity of BHR the methods had a good agreement (weighted kappa 0.64; CI 95% 0.46-0.82). Prevalence of BHR fulfilling the criteria of the both methods was 14%. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the prevalence of BHR in the population of north Finland with no previous diagnosis of asthma or chronic bronchitis is at least 14%, probably around 2 0%, assessed by histamine and methacholine challenge methods. The methods have a good agreement to be used for classifying the severity of BHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Finland, the current prevalence of COPD is unknown. This population-based study aimed to assess the prevalence of COPD in Finland in adults 21–70 years of age by using internationally accepted criteria for COPD, and to evaluate risk factors for COPD. A random sample (n = 959) of questionnaire responders was invited to participate in a clinical study, which included a structured interview, skin-prick tests, and spirometry. Complete data were received from 683 subjects. According to the criteria of the British Thoracic Society and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, the prevalence of COPD was 5.4% and 9.4% respectively. The risk of COPD increased significantly with age, amount of smoking, and family history of obstructive airways disease, but not with skin-prick positive allergy, recreational skiing, or outdoor work. The smoking-adjusted risk of clinically relevant COPD did not differ significantly between men and women. Among subjects with a smoking history of more than 40 pack-years, the prevalence of COPD was over 50%. Early start age of smoking was a strong risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have compared data from northern and southern Finland in a large epidemiological survey on respiratory conditions. The aim was to compare the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and chronic bronchitis in northern and southern Finland. The study was a part of comparative studies in Finland, Estonia, and Sweden, the FinEsS studies. Data from a postal survey on subjects aged 20-69 was analyzed. Participation rate was 84% of 7937 invited in Lapland in the north, and 77% of 7877 in Helsinki in the south. Physician-diagnosed asthma was reported by 5.6% in Helsinki, and by 5.5% in Lapland. Symptoms common in asthma were also equally prevalent in the two areas. Hay fever was significantly more common in Helsinki, 36% vs. 26% (p < 0.001). The prevalence for physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis was not significantly higher in Helsinki (3.4%) than in Lapland (2.9%). Those working outdoors reported more bronchitic symptoms than people working indoors (p < 0.05). Respiratory symptoms provoked by pollen or animal dander were more common in Helsinki, while symptoms provoked by inhaled irritants or cold weather conditions were more prevalent in Lapland. Current smoking was equally prevalent: 37% in Lapland and 38% in Helsinki. Risk factor analysis showed an elevated risk for chronic productive cough for living in Helsinki (OR 1.32), however, increasing age and current smoking were the strongest risk factors. In conclusion, prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms was similar in southern and northern Finland, but chronic bronchitis and bronchitic symptoms were more common in Helsinki, and the highest prevalence was found among current smokers working outdoors. Respiratory symptoms in cold weather were more prevalent in the north, while hay fever and respiratory symptoms provoked by allergens were more common in the south. The results support the view that environmental factors have a substantial effect on respiratory symptoms, but less effect on the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study objectives: The influences of different smoking categories on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and chronic bronchitis have been examined in the most northern province of Sweden, Norrbotten, and in Lapland, Finland. The two areas have similar geographic and demographic conditions. Methods and study population: The study is a part of the FinEsS studies, which are epidemiologic respiratory surveys in progress in Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. A random sample of 20- to 69-years-olds were invited to answer a postal questionnaire about respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and occupation, In Norrbotten, 8,333 subjects were invited and 7,104 responded (85%). In Lapland, 8,005 were invited and 6,633 responded (83%). Results: The participation by age and sex was similar in beth countries. The prevalence of smokers in Lapland was 32% vs 26% in Norrbotten. Significantly more women than men in Norrbotten were smokers, while the opposite was true for Lapland. Sputum production was the most prevalent symptom in beth areas, 25% in Lapland vs 19% in Norrbotten. The prevalence of chronic productive cough was 11% in Lapland and 7% in Norrbotten. Bronchitic symptoms were more prevalent in Lapland among both smokers and nonsmokers. A positive family history of chronic obstructive airway disease together with increased number of consumed cigarettes showed an additive effect for beth chronic productive cough and wheezing. The odds ratio (OR) for wheezing during the last 12 months was 3.8 for subjects without a family history of obstructive airway disease who consumed > 14 cigarettes per day compared with nonsmokers, but if the subjects had a family history of obstructive airway disease, the risk for wheezing increased to OR 8.4. Conclusion: Bronchitic symptoms were more common in Finland. The difference remained also after correction for demographic variables including smoking habits, age and socioeconomic group, and family history of obstructive airway disease.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]