OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in an urban population. MATERIAL: Eight hundred men and women aged 20-44 years, living in the capital Reykjavik and suburbs. METHODS: Participants answered a questionnaire, underwent skin prick testing for atopy, spirometry and a test for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) by methacholine challenge. RESULTS: There was 77% attendance. Altogether 16.6% reported wheezing or whistling at any time in the last 12 months. Altogether 32 (5.6%)answered yes to "Have you ever had asthma?" and the diagnosis had been confirmed by a doctor in all but four. Fourteen (2.5%) had suffered from an attack of asthma in the last 12 months wheras only 0.9% were currently using anti asthmatic drugs. BHR was found among 8.7% and atopy on skin testing among 20.5%. BHR was more common among those with airflow obstruction and three times more common among the atopic participants (18% vs. 6%, p%lt;0.01). By using a history of wheezing during the last 12 months together with BHR and/or a history of doctor confirmed asthma the prevalence of current asthma was found to be 5% in our sample. The main predictive factors for asthma were a history of breathlessness and nighttime breathing symptoms, but also atopy, airflow obstruction and a maternal history of asthma. CONCLUSION: Even by using a conservative defination, asthma is a common disorder among 20-44 years old Icelanders whereas the use of asthma medication is rather uncommon in this population.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in an urban population. MATERIAL: Eight hundred men and women aged 20-44 years, living in the capital Reykjavik and suburbs. METHODS:Participants answered a questionnaire, underwent skin prick testing for atopy, spirometry and a test for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) by methacholine challenge. RESULTS: There was 77% attendance. Altogether 16.6% reported wheezing or whistling at any time in the last 12 months. Altogether 32 (5.6%)answered yes to "Have you ever had asthma?" and the diagnosis had been confirmed by a doctor in all but four. Fourteen (2.5%) had suffered from an attack of asthma in the last 12 months wheras only 0.9% were currently using anti asthmatic drugs. BHR was found among 8.7% and atopy on skin testing among 20.5%. BHR was more common among those with airflow obstruction and three times more common among the atopic participants (18% vs. 6%, p%lt;0.01). By using a history of wheezing during the last 12 months together with BHR and/or a history of doctor confirmed asthma the prevalence of current asthma was found to be 5% in our sample. The main predictive factors for asthma were a history of breathlessness and nighttime breathing symptoms, but also atopy, airflow obstruction and a maternal history of asthma. CONCLUSION: Even by using a conservative defination, asthma is a common disorder among 20-44 years old Icelanders whereas the use of asthma medication is rather uncommon in this population.