Sara Maio1, Sandra Baldacci2, Laura Carrozzi3, Francesco Pistelli3, Anna Angino2, Marzia Simoni2, Giuseppe Sarno2, Sonia Cerrai2, Franca Martini2, Martina Fresta2, Patrizia Silvi2, Francesco Di Pede2, Massimo Guerriero4, Giovanni Viegi5. 1. Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: saramaio@ifc.cnr.it. 2. Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy. 3. Unit of Pulmonology 1, CardioThoracic and Vascular Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Italy. 4. Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Italy. 5. Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy; CNR Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Few epidemiological surveys on general population samples estimated changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms/diseases over a long time interval; our study aims to quantify the temporal changes in the prevalence rates of asthma, allergic rhinitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) after 25 years from baseline. METHODS: A general population sample participated in 3 cross-sectional surveys carried out in Central Italy (Pisa) in 1985-88 (n = 3865), 1991-93 (n = 2841), 2009-11 (n = 1620). 2276 (47%) subjects participated in at least 1 survey, 1723 (35.5%) in at least 2 surveys and 849 (17.5%) in all the 3 surveys. All subjects filled in a standardized questionnaire about health status and risk factors; a sub-sample performed spirometry. Chi-square test was used to compare adjusted prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms/diseases and descriptive characteristics among the surveys. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the association between respiratory symptoms/diseases and risk factors. RESULTS: There was an increasing trend in prevalence rates of all respiratory symptoms/diseases throughout the surveys: current asthma attacks (1st-3rd survey prevalence: 3.4-7.2%), allergic rhinitis (16.2-37.4%), usual phlegm (8.7-19.5%) and COPD (2.1-6.8%) more than doubled. The GEE model confirmed these increasing trends, indicating higher risk of having respiratory symptoms/diseases in the second and third surveys. CONCLUSIONS: While asthma and allergic rhinitis increasing trends were confirmed, with respect to other international studies, also a COPD increasing prevalence rates was shown.
BACKGROUND: Few epidemiological surveys on general population samples estimated changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms/diseases over a long time interval; our study aims to quantify the temporal changes in the prevalence rates of asthma, allergic rhinitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) after 25 years from baseline. METHODS: A general population sample participated in 3 cross-sectional surveys carried out in Central Italy (Pisa) in 1985-88 (n = 3865), 1991-93 (n = 2841), 2009-11 (n = 1620). 2276 (47%) subjects participated in at least 1 survey, 1723 (35.5%) in at least 2 surveys and 849 (17.5%) in all the 3 surveys. All subjects filled in a standardized questionnaire about health status and risk factors; a sub-sample performed spirometry. Chi-square test was used to compare adjusted prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms/diseases and descriptive characteristics among the surveys. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the association between respiratory symptoms/diseases and risk factors. RESULTS: There was an increasing trend in prevalence rates of all respiratory symptoms/diseases throughout the surveys: current asthma attacks (1st-3rd survey prevalence: 3.4-7.2%), allergic rhinitis (16.2-37.4%), usual phlegm (8.7-19.5%) and COPD (2.1-6.8%) more than doubled. The GEE model confirmed these increasing trends, indicating higher risk of having respiratory symptoms/diseases in the second and third surveys. CONCLUSIONS: While asthma and allergic rhinitis increasing trends were confirmed, with respect to other international studies, also a COPD increasing prevalence rates was shown.
Authors: Jutta E Laiho; Olli H Laitinen; Johannes Malkamäki; Leena Puustinen; Aki Sinkkonen; Juha Pärkkä; Heikki Hyöty Journal: Environ Epidemiol Date: 2022-06-08
Authors: Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu; Tiina M Ikäheimo; Tiina Laatikainen; Pekka Jousilahti; Maritta S Jaakkola; Jouni J K Jaakkola Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-07-04 Impact factor: 4.379