ArticleThorax2018
Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms with ageing.
Article in Thorax, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diagnostic Accuracy of FEFLung · 2025Pooled it
- Models for estimating and projecting global, regional and national prevalence and disease burden of asthma: a systematic review.Journal of global health · 2020Pooled it
- The Prevalence of Childhood Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Air Pollution Sources Among Adolescent Learners in Selected Schools in Vhembe District, South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Ambient fine particulate matter and allergic symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly population: results from the PIFCOPD study.Respiratory research · 2023Article
- Cohort profile: the multigeneration Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) cohort.BMJ open · 2022Article
- Parental Prepuberty Overweight and Offspring Lung Function.Nutrients · 2022Article
- Health-related quality of life as associated with asthma control, psychological status and insomnia.Upsala journal of medical sciences · 2022Article
- The effects of the antecedent use of inhaled steroid on the clinical course of COVID-19: A retrospective study of asthmatic patients.Journal of infection and public health · 2022Observational
- Exposures during the prepuberty period and future offspring's health: evidence from human cohort studies†.Biology of reproduction · 2021Review
- Bronchodilator response and lung function decline: Associations with exhaled nitric oxide with regard to sex and smoking status.The World Allergy Organization journal · 2021Article
- Combinations of self-reported rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma predicts IgE sensitization in more than 25,000 Danes.Clinical and translational allergy · 2021Article
- The effect of physical activity on asthma incidence over 10 years: population-based study.ERJ open research · 2021Article
- Exposure to Indoor Ferromagnetic Particulate Matter Monitored by Strawberry Plants and the Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Events in Adults.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Tobacco Smoke Exposure, Urban and Environmental Factors as Respiratory Disease Predictors in Italian Adolescents.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Pharmacological treatment of asthma in a cohort of adults during a 20-year period: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I, II and III.ERJ open research · 2019Article
- Change in the prevalence asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptom over a 20 year period: associations to year of birth, life style and sleep related symptoms.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
30 authors at 20 institutions in 15 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChange in the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in populations of ageing adults is likely to be influenced by smoking, asthma treatment and atopy.
methodsThe European Community Respiratory Health Survey collected information on prevalent asthma-like symptoms from representative samples of adults aged 20-44 years (29 centres in 13 European countries and Australia) at baseline and 10 and 20 years later (n=7844). Net changes in symptom prevalence were determined using generalised estimating equations (accounting for non-response through inverse probability weighting), followed by meta-analysis of centre level estimates.
findingsOver 20 years the prevalence of 'wheeze' and 'wheeze in the absence of a cold' decreased (-2.4%, 95% CI -3.5 to -1.3%; -1.5%, 95% CI -2.4 to -0.6%, respectively) but the prevalence of asthma attacks, use of asthma medication and hay fever/nasal allergies increased (0.6%, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.11; 3.6%, 95% CI 3.0 to 4.2; 2.7%, 95% CI 1.7 to 3.7). Changes were similar in the first 10 years compared with the second 10 years, except for hay fever/nasal allergies (increase seen in the first 10 years only). Decreases in these wheeze-related symptoms were largely seen in the group who gave up smoking, and were seen in those who reported hay fever/nasal allergies at baseline.
interpretationEuropean adults born between 1946 and 1970 have, over the last 20 years, experienced less wheeze, although they were more likely to report asthma attacks, use of asthma medication and hay fever. Decrease in wheeze is largely attributable to smoking cessation, rather than improved treatment of asthma. It may also be influenced by reductions in atopy with ageing.
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