Multiple manifestations of uncontrolled asthma increase the risk of severe COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

Asthma control is of importance when assessing the risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to explore associations of clinical characteristics and the effect of multiple manifestations of uncontrolled asthma with severe COVID-19.

METHODS

In 2014-2020, adult patients with uncontrolled asthma, defined as Asthma Control Test (ACT) ≤19 were identified in the Swedish National Airway Register (SNAR) (n = 24533). The SNAR database, including clinical data, was linked with national registers to identify patients with severe COVID-19 (n = 221). The effect of multiple manifestations of uncontrolled asthma was based on: 1) ACT ≤15, 2) frequent exacerbations and 3) previous asthma inpatient/secondary care and evaluated stepwise. Poisson regression analyses were conducted with severe COVID-19 as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

In this cohort with uncontrolled asthma, obesity was the strongest independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 in both sexes, but even greater in men. Multiple manifestations of uncontrolled asthma were more common among those with severe COVID-19 vs. without: one, 45.7 vs. 42.3%, two, 18.1 vs. 9.1% and three, 5.0 vs. 2.1%. The risk ratio (RR) of severe COVID-19 increased with an increasing number of manifestations of uncontrolled asthma: one, RR 1.49 (95% CI 1.09-2.02), two, RR 2.42 (95% CI 1.64-3.57) and three, RR 2.96 (95% CI 1.57-5.60), when adjusted for sex, age, and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to consider the effect of multiple manifestations of uncontrolled asthma and obesity when assessing patients with COVID-19, as this increases the risk of severe outcomes substantially.

Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed Early in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Whether treatment of gestational diabetes before 20 weeks' gestation improves maternal and infant health is unclear.

METHODS

We randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, women between 4 weeks' and 19 weeks 6 days' gestation who had a risk factor for hyperglycemia and a diagnosis of gestational diabetes (World Health Organization 2013 criteria) to receive immediate treatment for gestational diabetes or deferred or no treatment, depending on the results of a repeat oral glucose-tolerance test [OGTT] at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation (control). The trial included three primary outcomes: a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes (birth at <37 weeks' gestation, birth trauma, birth weight of ≥4500 g, respiratory distress, phototherapy, stillbirth or neonatal death, or shoulder dystocia), pregnancy-related hypertension (preeclampsia, eclampsia, or gestational hypertension), and neonatal lean body mass.

RESULTS

A total of 802 women underwent randomization; 406 were assigned to the immediate-treatment group and 396 to the control group; follow-up data were available for 793 women (98.9%). An initial OGTT was performed at a mean (±SD) gestation of 15.6±2.5 weeks. An adverse neonatal outcome event occurred in 94 of 378 women (24.9%) in the immediate-treatment group and in 113 of 370 women (30.5%) in the control group (adjusted risk difference, -5.6 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -10.1 to -1.2). Pregnancy-related hypertension occurred in 40 of 378 women (10.6%) in the immediate-treatment group and in 37 of 372 women (9.9%) in the control group (adjusted risk difference, 0.7 percentage points; 95% CI, -1.6 to 2.9). The mean neonatal lean body mass was 2.86 g in the immediate-treatment group and 2.91 g in the control group (adjusted mean difference, -0.04 g; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.02). No between-group differences were observed with respect to serious adverse events associated with screening and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate treatment of gestational diabetes before 20 weeks' gestation led to a modestly lower incidence of a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes than no immediate treatment; no material differences were observed for pregnancy-related hypertension or neonatal lean body mass. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and others; TOBOGM Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12616000924459.).

Previous pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and the risk of cardiovascular disease: A nested case-control study in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

Pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are two common pregnancy complications that affect birth outcomes and are associated with a long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aims of this study were to investigate if the pre-eclampsia association with CVD is independent of GDM and modified by body mass index (BMI) or GDM.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Sweden.

POPULATION

Cases were women with a first CVD event between 1991 and 2008 and a previous pregnancy who were matched with controls without CVD (1:5) by year of birth, age and region of birth.

METHODS

Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of GDM, pre-eclampsia and maternal BMI with CVD adjusted for potential confounders and effect modifications with interaction tests.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

CVD.

RESULTS

There were 2639 cases and 13 310 controls with complete data. Pre-eclampsia and GDM were independent risk factors for CVD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.59, 95% CI 2.12-3.17 and aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.09, respectively). After stratifying by maternal BMI, the adjusted association of pre-eclampsia with CVD did not differ notably between BMI groups: normal weight (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.90-3.69), overweight (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.52-4.68) and obesity (aOR 3.03, 95% CI 0.74-12.4). Similar findings were seen when stratifying on GDM/non-GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-eclampsia and GDM are independent risk factors for later CVD and having both during pregnancy is a major risk factor for later CVD. The association between pre-eclampsia and CVD is not modified by BMI. Effective CVD preventive programs for high-risk women are urgently needed in order to improve women's long-term health.

Interaction of smoking and social status on the risk of respiratory outcomes in a Swedish adult population: A Nordic Epilung study

BACKGROUND

Evidence abounds on the independent roles of social class and smoking in relation to obstructive airway diseases, but data are sparse on the impact of their interaction. We evaluated whether and to what extent social class and smoking interact in relation to risk of respiratory diseases in adults.

METHODS

Data from the population-based studies, West Sweden Asthma Study (WSAS, n = 23,753) and Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden studies (OLIN, n = 6519), were used, constituting randomly selected adults aged 20-75 years. Bayesian network analysis was used to estimate the probability for the interaction between smoking and socioeconomic status in relation to respiratory outcomes.

RESULTS

Occupational and educational SES modified the association between smoking and the probability of allergic and non-allergic asthma. Former smokers who were at intermediate non manual employees and manual workers in service had higher probability of allergic asthma compared to professionals and executives. Furthermore, former smokers with primary education had higher probability of non-allergic asthma than those with secondary and tertiary education. Similarly, former smokers among professionals and executives had higher probability of non-allergic asthma than manual and home workers and primary educated. Likewise, allergic asthma due to former smoking was higher among highly educated compared to low educated.

CONCLUSIONS

Beyond their independent roles, socioeconomic status and smoking interact in defining the risk of respiratory diseases. Clearer understanding of this interaction can help to identify population subgroups at most need of public health interventions.

Prevalence and management of severe asthma in the Nordic countries – findings from the NORDSTAR cohort

Background

Real-life evidence on prevalence and management of severe asthma is limited. Nationwide population registries across the Nordic countries provide unique opportunities to describe prevalence and management patterns of severe asthma at population level.

Aim

In nationwide register data from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, we examined the prevalence of severe asthma and the proportion of severe asthma patients being managed in specialist care.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on the NORdic Dataset for aSThmA Research (NORDSTAR) research collaboration platform. We identified patients with severe asthma in adults (≥18 years) and in children (6–17 years) in 2018 according to the ERS/ATS definition. Patients managed in specialist care were those with an asthma-related specialist outpatient contact (only available in Sweden and Finland).

Results

Overall, we identified 598 242 patients with current asthma in Sweden, Norway, and Finland in 2018. Among those, the prevalence of severe asthma was 3.5%, 5.4% and 5.2% in adults and 0.4%, 1.0%, and 0.3% in children in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, respectively. In Sweden and Finland, 37% and 40% of adult patients with severe asthma and ≥2 exacerbations were managed in specialist care; in children the numbers were 56% and 41%, respectively.

Conclusion

In three Nordic countries, population-based nationwide data demonstrated similar prevalence of severe asthma. In children, severe asthma was a rare condition. Notably, a large proportion of patients with severe asthma was not managed by a respiratory specialist, suggesting the need for increased recognition of severe asthma in primary care.

Nonrespiratory Diseases in Adults Without and With Asthma by Age at Asthma Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Chronic nonrespiratory diseases are seemingly more prevalent in subjects with than without asthma, and asthma seems to differentiate by age of onset. However, studies with comparison of nonrespiratory diseases in subjects with and without asthma, considering asthma age of onset, are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the quantity and type of chronic nonrespiratory diseases in adults with and without asthma considering age at asthma diagnosis.

METHODS

In 2016, a FinEsS questionnaire was sent to 16,000 20- to 69-year-old adults randomly selected in Helsinki and Western Finland populations. Physician-diagnosed asthma was categorized to early (0-11), intermediate (12-39), and late-diagnosed (40-69 years).

RESULTS

A total of 8199 (51.5%) responded, and 842 (10.3%) reported asthma and age at diagnosis. In age and sex-adjusted binary logistic regression model, the most represented nonrespiratory disease was treated gastroesophageal reflux disease in early-diagnosed (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.17-3.19; P = .011) and osteoporosis in both intermediate-diagnosed (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.01-5.91; P < .001) and late-diagnosed asthma (odds ratio, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.77-4.79; P < .001), compared with subjects without asthma. In addition, gastroesophageal reflux disease, depression, sleep apnea, painful condition, and obesity were significantly more common in intermediate- and late-diagnosed asthma compared with without asthma, and similarly anxiety or panic disorder in intermediate-diagnosed and hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia, and diabetes in late-diagnosed asthma. In age-adjusted analyses, having 3 or more nonrespiratory diseases was more common in intermediate (12.1%) and late-diagnosed asthma (36.2%) versus without asthma (10.4%) (both P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonrespiratory diseases were more common in adults with asthma than in adults without asthma. The type of nonrespiratory diseases differed, and their frequency increased by increasing age at asthma diagnosis.

Socioeconomic inequalities in asthma and respiratory symptoms in a high-income country: changes from 1996 to 2016

Objective: Low socioeconomic status based both on educational level and income has been associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms, but changes over time in these associations have rarely been studied. The aim was to study the associations between educational or income inequality and asthma and respiratory symptoms among women and men over a 20-year period in northern Sweden. Methods: The study was performed within the Obstructive Lung disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) research program. Mailed questionnaire surveys were administered to a random sample of adults (20-69 years of age) living in Sweden, in 1996, 2006 and 2016. Data on educational level and income were collected from the national integrated database for labor market research. Results: The educational inequality associated with asthma and asthmatic wheeze tended to decrease from 1996 to 2016, while it increased for productive cough, the latter among men not among women. The income inequality decreased for productive cough, especially for women, while no clear overall trends were found for asthmatic wheeze and asthma, apart from a decrease in income inequality regarding asthma among men. Conclusion: The patterns for socioeconomic inequality differed for asthma and wheeze compared to productive cough, and the results emphasize that education and income do not mirror the same aspects of socioeconomic inequality in a high-income country. Our findings are important for decision makers, not the least on a political level, as reduced inequality, e.g. through education, could lead to reduced morbidity.

Postural control among individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross-sectional study of motor and sensory systems

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered a heterogenic syndrome with systemic effects, including muscle dysfunction. There is evidence of postural control impairments among individuals with COPD, partly related to muscle weakness. However, research is scarce regarding the other underlying systems of postural control, such as the visual, somatosensory and vestibular system. The aim was to compare postural control, as well as the motor and sensory systems, between individuals with and without COPD.

METHODS

Twenty-two participants with COPD (mean age 74.0 ±6.2 years) and 34 non-obstructive references (mean age 74.9 ±4.9 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Postural control was assessed with center of pressure trajectory of postural sway in quiet as well as a limits of stability test, calculating mediolateral and anteroposterior amplitudes for each test. Assessment of function in the motor system included maximum hand grip strength, as well as maximum strength in muscles around the hip, knee and ankle joints. Visual acuity, pressure sensibility, proprioception, vestibular screening, and reaction time were also included. Data was compared between groups, and significant differences in postural control were further analyzed with an orthogonal projection of latent structures regression model.

RESULTS

There was a significantly increased sway amplitude in the mediolateral direction in quiet stance on soft surface with eyes open (p = 0.014) as well as a smaller anteroposterior amplitude in the limits of stability test (p = 0.019) in the COPD group. Regression models revealed that the mediolateral amplitude was related to visual acuity and the burden of tobacco smoking assessed as pack-years. Further, muscle strength associated with anteroposterior amplitude in limits of stability test in the COPD group, and with age and ankle dorsal flexion strength among the referents. Besides for lower ankle plantar flexion strength in the COPD group, there were however no significant differences in muscle strength.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with COPD had a decreased postural control and several factors were associated with the impairments. The findings imply that the burden of tobacco smoking and reduced visual acuity relate to increased postural sway in quiet stance, and that muscle weakness is related to decreased limits of stability, among individuals with COPD.

Early-life risk factors for development of asthma from 8 to 28 years of age: a prospective cohort study

Background

The objective was to estimate the incidence rate of asthma from age 8 to 28 years and evaluate early-life risk factors for asthma onset at different ages.

Methods

In 1996, within the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies, a cohort of 3430 schoolchildren (97% of invited) was recruited at age 8 years to a prospective study about asthma. The cohort was followed annually from age 8 to 19 years and at 28 years by questionnaire surveys (67% of the original cohort participated). Asthma was categorised as never-asthma, onset age ≤8 years, onset age 9-13 years, onset age 14-19 years or onset age >19 years.

Results

Of the 3430 individuals in the cohort, 690 (20.1%) reported asthma in any survey. The average incidence rate was 10.0/1000 per year at ≤8 years, 11.9/1000 per year at 9-13 years, 13.3/1000 per year at 14-19 years and 6.1/1000 per year at >19 years. The incidence was higher among boys until age 10 years, but from age 15 years, it became higher among girls. Family history of asthma, allergic sensitisation and breastfeeding <3 months were associated with asthma onset throughout the study. Low birthweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, severe respiratory infection, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema were associated with asthma onset ≤8 and 9-13 years.

Conclusions

The incidence of asthma was high during childhood and the teenage period, and decreased substantially during young adulthood. Early-life factors were associated with asthma onset throughout childhood but had also a lasting effect on asthma incidence until adulthood.

[Nordic Epilung highlights the associations between socioeconomy and obstructive lung disease in Sweden, Finland and Norway]

The Nordic EpiLung study is a research project with the aim of studying socioeconomic aspects of obstructive lung diseases in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Surveys of the general populations in different areas of the countries, using similar methods, have been performed since the 1990s. Data from more than 37,000 participating individuals in Sweden, 12,000 in Finland, and 65,000 in Norway have been linked to national registers in the three countries, including data on educational level, income, hospitalizations, sick leave and early retirement, dispensed medications for obstructive airway diseases and mortality. The collaboration has not only yielded important scientific results until today, it has also created an arena for further joint research projects - both ongoing and future planned.

Global microRNA and protein expression in human term placenta

Introduction

Description of the global expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins in healthy human term placentas may increase our knowledge of molecular biological pathways that are important for normal fetal growth and development in term pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore the global expression of miRNAs and proteins, and to point out functions of importance in healthy term placentas.

Materials and methods

Placental samples (n = 19) were identified in a local biobank. All samples were from uncomplicated term pregnancies with vaginal births and healthy, normal weight newborns. Next-generation sequencing and nano-scale liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry were used to analyse miRNA and protein expression, respectively.

Results

A total of 895 mature miRNAs and 6,523 proteins were detected in the placentas, of which 123 miRNAs and 346 proteins were highly abundant. The miRNAs were in high degree mapped to chromosomes 19, 14, and X. Analysis of the highly abundant miRNAs and proteins showed several significantly predicted functions in common, including immune and inflammatory response, lipid metabolism and development of the nervous system.

Discussion

The predicted function inflammatory response may reflect normal vaginal delivery, while lipid metabolism and neurodevelopment may be important processes for the term fetus. The data presented in this study, with complete miRNA and protein findings, will enhance the knowledge base for future research in the field of placental function and pathology.

Computational phenotyping of obstructive airway diseases: protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Over the last decade, computational sciences have contributed immensely to characterization of phenotypes of airway diseases, but it is difficult to compare derived phenotypes across studies, perhaps as a result of the different decisions that fed into these phenotyping exercises. We aim to perform a systematic review of studies using computational approaches to phenotype obstructive airway diseases in children and adults.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will search PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for papers published between 2010 and 2020. Conferences proceedings, reference list of included papers, and experts will form additional sources of literature. We will include observational epidemiological studies that used a computational approach to derive phenotypes of chronic airway diseases, whether in a general population or in a clinical setting. Two reviewers will independently screen the retrieved studies for eligibility, extract relevant data, and perform quality appraisal of included studies. A third reviewer will arbitrate any disagreements in these processes. Quality appraisal of the studies will be undertaken using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. We will use summary tables to describe the included studies. We will narratively synthesize the generated evidence, providing critical assessment of the populations, variables, and computational approaches used in deriving the phenotypes across studies CONCLUSION: As progress continues to be made in the area of computational phenotyping of chronic obstructive airway diseases, this systematic review, the first on this topic, will provide the state of the art on the field and highlight important perspectives for future works.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical approval is needed for this work is based only on the published literature and does not involve collection of any primary or human data.

REGISTRATION AND REPORTING

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020164898.

The association of smoking, use of snuff, and preconception alcohol consumption with spontaneous abortion: A population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

It is unclear whether tobacco in early pregnancy and alcohol use preceding pregnancy are associated with spontaneous abortion. The purpose was to investigate if use of tobacco and/or alcohol is associated with spontaneous abortion among women attending antenatal care, and if age and body mass index (BMI) attenuate the risk.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A population-based cohort study based on data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register. All pregnant women having had the first antenatal visit from January 2014 to July 2018 were included (n = 525 604). The register had information about smoking and use of snuff before and in early pregnancy, as well as data on alcohol habits before pregnancy, measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a validated questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between lifestyle factors and spontaneous abortion, and multiple imputation was used to impute missing data.

RESULTS

In total, 34 867 (6.6%) pregnancies ended in a spontaneous abortion after the first visit to maternal health care. At the first maternal healthcare visit, daily smoking was reported by 24 214 (5.1%), and 6403 (1.2%) used snuff. For 19 837 (4.2%) women, a high alcohol score was reported for the year preceding pregnancy. After adjusting for potential confounders and multiple imputation, use of tobacco was associated with spontaneous abortion; smoking 1-9 cigarettes/day (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.18), smoking 10 or more cigarettes/day (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.-1.26), and use of snuff (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06-1.37). Higher AUDIT scores were not significantly associated with spontaneous abortion (AUDIT 6-9: aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.97-1.10 and AUDIT 10 or more: aOR 1.07, 95% CI 0.94-1.22). Increasing maternal age showed the highest risk of spontaneous abortion from the age of 35, and BMI of 30 kg/m² or more increased the risk. There were interactions between different lifestyle factors associated with spontaneous abortion that could either increase or decrease the risk of spontaneous abortion.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking and use of snuff were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. The AUDIT scores preceding pregnancy were not associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, which contradicts the results from previous studies.

Determinants of Severe Asthma - A Long-Term Cohort Study in Northern Sweden

Background

Risk factors for severe asthma are not well described. The aim was to identify clinical characteristics and risk factors at study entry that are associated with severe asthma at follow-up in a long-term prospective population-based cohort study of adults with asthma.

Methods

Between 1986 and 2001, 2055 adults with asthma were identified by clinical examinations of population-based samples in northern Sweden. During 2012-2014, n = 1006 (71% of invited) were still alive, residing in the study area and participated in a follow-up, of which 40 were identified as having severe asthma according to ERS/ATS, 131 according to GINA, while 875 had other asthma. The mean follow-up time was 18.7 years.

Results

Obesity at study entry and adult-onset asthma were associated with severe asthma at follow-up. While severe asthma was more common in those with adult-onset asthma in both men and women, the association with obesity was observed in women only. Sensitization to mites and moulds, but not to other allergens, as well as NSAID-related respiratory symptoms was more common in severe asthma than in other asthma. Participants with severe asthma at follow-up had lower FEV₁, more pronounced FEV₁ reversibility, and more wheeze, dyspnea and nighttime awakenings already at study entry than those with other asthma.

Conclusion

Adult-onset asthma is an important risk factor for development of severe asthma in adults, and obesity increased the risk among women. The high burden of respiratory symptoms already at study entry also indicate long-term associations with development of severe asthma.

Age at asthma diagnosis is related to prevalence and characteristics of asthma symptoms

Background

Although asthma may begin at any age, knowledge about relationship between asthma age of onset and the prevalence and character of different symptoms is scarce.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate if adult-diagnosed asthma is associated with more symptoms and different symptom profiles than child-diagnosed asthma.

Methods

A FinEsS postal survey was conducted in a random sample of 16 000 20-69-year-old Finnish adults in 2016. Those reporting physician-diagnosed asthma and age at asthma diagnosis were included. Age 18 years was chosen to delineate child- and adult-diagnosed asthma.

Results

Of responders (N = 8199, 51.5%), 842 (10.3%) reported asthma diagnosis. Adult-diagnosed asthma was reported by 499 (59.3%) and child-diagnosed by 343 (40.7%). Of responders with adult-diagnosed and child-diagnosed asthma, 81.8% versus 60.6% used asthma medication (p < 0.001), respectively. Current asthma was also more prevalent in adult-diagnosed asthma (89.2% versus 72.0%, p < 0.001). Risk factors of attacks of breathlessness during the last 12 months were adult-diagnosis (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.64–3.54, p < 0.001), female gender (OR = 1.49, 1.07–2.08, p = 0.018), family history of asthma (OR = 1.48, 1.07–2.04, p = 0.018) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.49, 1.07–2.09, p = 0.019). All the analysed asthma symptoms, except dyspnea in exercise, were more prevalent in adult-diagnosed asthma in age- and gender-adjusted analyses (p = 0.032-<0.001) which was also more often associated with 5 or more asthma symptoms (p < 0.001) and less often with non-symptomatic appearance (p < 0.001) than child-diagnosed asthma.

Conclusion

Responders with adult-diagnosed asthma had more often current asthma and a higher and multiform asthma symptom burden, although they used asthma medication more often compared to responders with child-diagnosed asthma.

BMI increase – A risk factor for FEV1 decline for overweight and obese adults with asthma

Background

With increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, it is important to study how body mass index (BMI) change may affect lung function among subjects with asthma. There are few prospective studies on this topic, especially with separate analyses of those with normal and high BMI. The aim of the present study was to prospectively study the association between annual BMI change and annual lung function decline, separately among those with normal initial BMI and overweight/obesity, in an adult asthma cohort.

Methods

A population-based adult asthma cohort was examined at study entry between 1986 and 2001 and at follow-up between 2012 and 2014 (n=945). Annual BMI change was analysed in association with annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV₁/FVC separately in those with normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) and overweight/obese subjects (BMI ≥25) at study entry. Regression models were used to adjust for sex, age, smoking, inhaled corticosteroids use and occupational exposure to gas, dust or fumes.

Results

Overweight/obese subjects had lower FEV₁ and FVC but slower annual FEV₁ and FVC decline compared to those with normal weight. After adjustment through regression modelling, the association between BMI change with FEV₁ and FVC decline remained significant for both BMI groups, but with stronger associations among the overweight/obese (FEV₁ B_{[Overweight/obese]}=−25 mL versus B_{[normal weight]}=−15 mL). However, when including only those with BMI increase during follow-up, the associations remained significant among those with overweight/obesity, but not in the normal-weight group. No associations were seen for FEV₁/FVC.

Conclusions

BMI increase is associated with faster FEV₁ and FVC decline among overweight and obese adults with asthma in comparison with their normal-weight counterparts.

BMI increase is associated with faster FEV₁ and FVC decline in adults with asthma, and this association is stronger among overweight and obese adults with asthma than among their normal-weight counterpartshttps://bit.ly/3PDxOk0

The combined effect of exposures to vapours, gases, dusts, fumes and tobacco smoke on current asthma

Smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts or fumes (VGDF) increase asthma symptoms. The impact of combined exposure is less well established. We aimed to evaluate the risk of combined exposure to smoking, ETS and VGDF on the prevalence of current asthma and asthma-related symptoms with a postal survey among a random population of 16,000 adults, aged 20-69 years (response rate 51.5%). The 836 responders with physician-diagnosed asthma were included in the analysis. Of them, 81.9% had current asthma defined as physician-diagnosed asthma with current asthma medication use or reported symptoms. There was a consistently increasing trend in the prevalence of current asthma by increased exposure. The highest prevalence of multiple symptoms was in smokers with VGDF exposure (92.1%) compared to the unexposed (73.9%, p = 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, combined exposure to several exposures increased the risk in all analysed symptoms (p = 0.002-0.007). In conclusion, smoking and exposure to ETS or VGDF increased the prevalence of current asthma and multiple symptoms. The combined exposure carried the highest risk. Preventive strategies are called for to mitigate exposure to tobacco smoke and VGDF.

Self-Reported Physician Diagnosed Asthma with COPD is Associated with Higher Mortality than Self-Reported Asthma or COPD Alone - A Prospective 24-Year Study in the Population of Helsinki, Finland

Asthma and COPD are common chronic obstructive respiratory diseases. COPD is associated with increased mortality, but for asthma the results are varying. Their combination has been less investigated, and the results are contradictory. The aim of this prospective study was to observe the overall mortality in obstructive pulmonary diseases and how mortality was related to specific causes using postal questionnaire data. This study included data from 6,062 participants in the FinEsS Helsinki Study (1996) linked to mortality data during a 24-year follow-up. According to self-reported physician diagnosed asthma, COPD, or smoking status, the population was divided into five categories: combined asthma and COPD, COPD alone and asthma alone, ever-smokers without asthma or COPD and never-smokers without asthma or COPD (reference group). For the specific causes of death both the underlying and contributing causes of death were used. Participants with asthma and COPD had the highest hazard of mortality 2.4 (95% CI 1.7-3.5). Ever-smokers without asthma or COPD had a 9.5 (3.7-24.2) subhazard ratio (sHR) related to lower respiratory tract disease specific causes. For asthma, COPD and combined, the corresponding figures were 10.8 (3.4-34.1), 25.0 (8.1-77.4), and 56.1 (19.6-160), respectively. Ever-smokers without asthma or COPD sHR 1.7 (95% CI 1.3-2.5), and participants with combined asthma and COPD 3.5 (1.9-6.3) also featured mortality in association with coronary artery disease. Subjects with combined diseases had the highest hazard of overall mortality and combined diseases also showed the highest hazard of mortality associated with lower respiratory tract causes or coronary artery causes.Abbreviations: CigCigaretteCOPDChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCVDCardiovascular diseaseFEV₁Forced Expiratory Volume in one secondFVCForced Vital CapacityFinEsSFinland, Estonia, and Sweden study on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasesHRHazard RatiosHRSubhazard RatioICD-10International Statistical Classifications of Diseases and Related Health Problems (Version 10).

Restrictive spirometry versus restrictive lung function using the GLI reference values

BACKGROUND

Restrictive lung function may indicate various underlying diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different restrictive spirometry patterns (RSPs) to identify restrictive lung function (total lung capacity [TLC] < lower limit of normal [LLN]) according to reference values by the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) in a wide age-ranged, general population sample.

METHODS

A general population sample (n = 607, age 23-72 years, smokers 18.8%) with proper dynamic spirometry and TLC measurements, was included. Accuracy of two main categories of RSP to identify TLC < LLN were evaluated: traditional RSPs (definition 1: FVC < 80% of predicted and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ 0.7 and definition 2: FVC < LLN and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ LLN) and RSPs defined by Youden's method (definition 3: FVC < 85.5% of predicted and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ LLN and definition 4: FVC Z-score < -1.0 and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ LLN).

RESULTS

The prevalence of restrictive lung function (TLC < LLN) was 5.3%. The most accurate cut-offs for FVC to identify TLC < LLN were 85.5% for FVC% of predicted, and -1.0 for FVC Z-score. The traditional RSP definitions 1 and 2 had higher specificity (95.0% and 96.9%) but substantially lower sensitivity compared to RSP definitions 3 and 4.

CONCLUSION

Based on the GLI reference values, the RSP definition FVC < LLN and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ LLN yielded the highest specificity and may appropriately be used to rule out restrictive lung function. The RSP definition with the most favourable trade-off between sensitivity and specificity, FVC < 85.5% of predicted and FEV₁ /FVC ≥ LLN, may serve as an alternative with higher sensitivity for screening.

NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD): a population study

Background

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may exacerbate respiratory symptoms. A recent European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology position paper recommended the use of an acronym, N-ERD (NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease), for this hypersensitivity associated with asthma or chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of N-ERD and identify factors associated with N-ERD.

Methods

In 2016, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of a random adult population of 16 000 subjects aged 20–69 years was performed in Helsinki and Western Finland. The response rate was 51.5%.

Results

The prevalence was 1.4% for N-ERD, and 0.7% for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). The prevalence of N-ERD was 6.9% among subjects with asthma and 2.7% among subjects with rhinitis. The risk factors for N-ERD were older age, family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis, long-term smoking and exposure to environmental pollutants. Asthmatic subjects with N-ERD had a higher risk of respiratory symptoms, severe hypersensitivity reactions and hospitalisations than asthmatic subjects without N-ERD. The subphenotype of N-ERD with asthma was most symptomatic. Subjects with rhinitis associated with N-ERD, which would not be included in AERD, had the fewest symptoms.

Conclusion

We conclude that the prevalence of N-ERD was 1.4% in a representative Finnish adult population sample. Older age, family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis, cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, and occupational exposures increased odds of N-ERD. N-ERD was associated with significant morbidity.

Population-based prevalence of N-ERD is 1.4%. N-ERD is symptomatic, with a rhinitis subgroup. The risk factors for N-ERD are older age, family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis, long-term smoking and exposure to environmental pollutants.https://bit.ly/3HxGftP

Spirometric phenotypes from early childhood to young adulthood: a Chronic Airway Disease Early Stratification study

Background

The prevalences of obstructive and restrictive spirometric phenotypes, and their relation to early-life risk factors from childhood to young adulthood remain poorly understood. The aim was to explore these phenotypes and associations with well-known respiratory risk factors across ages and populations in European cohorts.

Methods

We studied 49 334 participants from 14 population-based cohorts in different age groups (≤10, >10–15, >15–20, >20–25 years, and overall, 5–25 years). The obstructive phenotype was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC) z-score less than the lower limit of normal (LLN), whereas the restrictive phenotype was defined as FEV₁/FVC z-score ≥LLN, and FVC z-score <LLN.

Results

The prevalence of obstructive and restrictive phenotypes varied from 3.2–10.9% and 1.8–7.7%, respectively, without clear age trends. A diagnosis of asthma (adjusted odds ratio (aOR=2.55, 95% CI 2.14–3.04), preterm birth (aOR=1.84, 1.27–2.66), maternal smoking during pregnancy (aOR=1.16, 95% CI 1.01–1.35) and family history of asthma (aOR=1.44, 95% CI 1.25–1.66) were associated with a higher prevalence of obstructive, but not restrictive, phenotype across ages (5–25 years). A higher current body mass index (BMI was more often observed in those with the obstructive phenotype but less in those with the restrictive phenotype (aOR=1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06 and aOR=0.81, 95% CI 0.78–0.85, per kg·m⁻² increase in BMI, respectively). Current smoking was associated with the obstructive phenotype in participants older than 10 years (aOR=1.24, 95% CI 1.05–1.46).

Conclusion

Obstructive and restrictive phenotypes were found to be relatively prevalent during childhood, which supports the early origins concept. Several well-known respiratory risk factors were associated with the obstructive phenotype, whereas only low BMI was associated with the restrictive phenotype, suggesting different underlying pathobiology of these two phenotypes.

Obstructive and restrictive phenotypes are present from childhood to adulthood but without age trends. Established risk factors for airway disease are associated with the obstructive phenotype, whereas low BMI is associated with the restrictive.https://bit.ly/3BMoMtI

Changes in lung function in European adults born between 1884 and 1996 and implications for the diagnosis of lung disease: a cross-sectional analysis of ten population-based studies

BACKGROUND

During the past century, socioeconomic and scientific advances have resulted in changes in the health and physique of European populations. Accompanying improvements in lung function, if unrecognised, could result in the misclassification of lung function measurements and misdiagnosis of lung diseases. We therefore investigated changes in population lung function with birth year across the past century, accounting for increasing population height, and examined how such changes might influence the interpretation of lung function measurements.

METHODS

In our analyses of cross-sectional data from ten European population-based studies, we included individuals aged 20-94 years who were born between 1884 and 1996, regardless of previous respiratory diagnoses or symptoms. FEV₁, forced vital capacity (FVC), height, weight, and smoking behaviour were measured between 1965 and 2016. We used meta-regression to investigate how FEV₁ and FVC (adjusting for age, study, height, sex, smoking status, smoking pack-years, and weight) and the FEV₁/FVC ratio (adjusting for age, study, sex, and smoking status) changed with birth year. Using estimates from these models, we graphically explored how mean lung function values would be expected to progressively deviate from predicted values. To substantiate our findings, we used linear regression to investigate how the FEV₁ and FVC values predicted by 32 reference equations published between 1961 and 2015 changed with estimated birth year.

FINDINGS

Across the ten included studies, we included 243 465 European participants (mean age 51·4 years, 95% CI 51·4-51·5) in our analysis, of whom 136 275 (56·0%) were female and 107 190 (44·0%) were male. After full adjustment, FEV₁ increased by 4·8 mL/birth year (95% CI 2·6-7·0; p<0·0001) and FVC increased by 8·8 mL/birth year (5·7-12·0; p<0·0001). Birth year-related increases in the FEV₁ and FVC values predicted by published reference equations corroborated these findings. This height-independent increase in FEV₁ and FVC across the last century will have caused mean population values to progressively exceed previously predicted values. However, the population mean adjusted FEV₁/FVC ratio decreased by 0·11 per 100 birth years (95% CI 0·09-0·14; p<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

If current diagnostic criteria remain unchanged, the identified shifts in European values will allow the easier fulfilment of diagnostic criteria for lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the systematic underestimation of lung disease severity.

FUNDING

The European Respiratory Society, AstraZeneca, Chiesi Farmaceutici, GlaxoSmithKline, Menarini, and Sanofi-Genzyme.

Influence of Childhood Exposure to a Farming Environment on Age at Asthma Diagnosis in a Population-Based Study

Purpose

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, and factors associated with different asthma phenotypes are poorly understood. Given the higher prevalence of farming exposure and late diagnosis of asthma in more rural Western Finland as compared with the capital of Helsinki, we investigated the relationship between childhood farming environment and age at asthma diagnosis.

Methods

A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out with subjects aged 20–69 years in Western Finland. The response rate was 52.5%. We included 3864 participants, 416 of whom had physician-diagnosed asthma at a known age and with data on the childhood environment. The main finding was confirmed in a similar sample from Helsinki. Participants were classified as follows with respect to asthma diagnosis: early diagnosis (0–11 years), intermediate diagnosis (12–39 years), and late diagnosis (40–69 years).

Results

The prevalence of asthma was similar both without and with childhood exposure to a farming environment (11.7% vs 11.3%). Allergic rhinitis, family history of asthma, ex-smoker, occupational exposure, and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² were associated with a higher likelihood of asthma. Childhood exposure to a farming environment did not increase the odds of having asthma (aOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.87–1.40). It did increase the odds of late diagnosis (aOR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.12–4.69), but the odds were lower for early (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30–0.80) and intermediate diagnosis of asthma (aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.47–1.18).

Conclusion

Odds were lower for early diagnosis of asthma and higher for late diagnosis of asthma in a childhood farming environment. This suggests a new hypothesis concerning the etiology of asthma when it is diagnosed late.

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Severe Asthma in a General Population Study: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics

PURPOSE

Current guidelines primarily use medication levels to distinguish severe asthma from other types of asthma. In addition, severe asthma must also be uncontrolled at high-intensity treatment or become uncontrolled if treatment level is decreased. To date, only a few studies have used this definition to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of severe asthma in population-based samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of individuals with severe asthma in the population-representative West Sweden Asthma Study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional population-based study, a randomly selected sample (n=1172) and a separate asthma sample (n=744) underwent clinical examinations, completed a structured interview and responded to questionnaires. Severe asthma was defined as at least one feature of uncontrolled asthma despite treatment in line with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) steps 4/5. This treatment level required a minimum medium dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus a second controller or oral corticosteroids.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe asthma was 1.1% in the adult random sample and 9.5% within the asthma sample. Individuals with severe asthma were older and had more symptoms, activity limitations, heart disease and blood neutrophils compared to those with other asthma. They also had lower lung function and despite these impairments, 32% did not have annual contact with a healthcare provider.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of severe asthma was higher compared to previous studies, and many individuals with severe asthma did not have regular contact with healthcare providers. Due to the high burden of symptoms and impairments for individuals with severe asthma, it is important that the healthcare system implement strategies to improve follow-up and evaluate these patients according to existing guidelines.