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  • Title: [Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and use of asthma drugs are increasing among young adult Icelanders].
    Author: Sigurkarlsson S, Clausen M, Gislason T, Gislason D.
    Journal: Laeknabladid; 2011 Sep; 97(9):463-7. PubMed ID: 21911911.
    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.
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