Hanna Hisinger-Mölkänen1, Paula Pallasaho2, Tari Haahtela3, Ari Lindqvist4, Anssi Sovijärvi5, Päivi Piirilä6. 1. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: hanna.hisinger-molkanen@helsinki.fi. 2. Espoo City Health Services, Espoo, Finland. 3. Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 4. Clinical Research Unit of Pulmonary Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 5. HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 6. Unit of Clinical Physiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mortality and hospitalization due to asthma have decreased in many European countries, but asthma symptoms still cause a lot of morbidity and costs. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated prevalence trends of asthma, asthma symptoms and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in adults aged 20-69 years during a 20-year period from 1996 to 2016 in the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. METHODS: Three cross-sectional postal surveys were conducted in random population samples 10 years apart. In 1996, 2006 and 2016, a total of 6062 (response rate 75.9%), 2449 (61.9%) and 4026 subjects (50.3%) took part, respectively. RESULTS: In all responders, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 6.6% in 1996, 10% in 2006 and 10.9% in 2016. The prevalence increased from 1996 to 2006, but stabilized from 2006 to 2016, both in men and women and in smokers and non-smokers. The prevalence of current asthma (8.5% in 2006 and 8.8% in 2016) and of asthma with rhinoconjunctivitis (7.6% in 2006 and 7.5% in 2016) remained also at the same level. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis decreased significantly from 2006 (42.7%) to 2016 (39.0%, p = 0.004). Those with physician diagnosed asthma reported significantly less symptoms in 2016 compared to 2006 and 1996, although there was no change in smoking habits or medication use. Young asthmatics (20-29 years) without rhinoconjunctivitis reported least symptoms. CONCLUSION: Previously observed increase of physician-diagnosed asthma prevalence in adults seems to be levelling off in Helsinki, and patients have fewer symptoms than 20 years ago. In addition, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is less frequent than 10 years earlier. (247 words).
BACKGROUND:Mortality and hospitalization due to asthma have decreased in many European countries, but asthma symptoms still cause a lot of morbidity and costs. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated prevalence trends of asthma, asthma symptoms and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in adults aged 20-69 years during a 20-year period from 1996 to 2016 in the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. METHODS: Three cross-sectional postal surveys were conducted in random population samples 10 years apart. In 1996, 2006 and 2016, a total of 6062 (response rate 75.9%), 2449 (61.9%) and 4026 subjects (50.3%) took part, respectively. RESULTS: In all responders, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 6.6% in 1996, 10% in 2006 and 10.9% in 2016. The prevalence increased from 1996 to 2006, but stabilized from 2006 to 2016, both in men and women and in smokers and non-smokers. The prevalence of current asthma (8.5% in 2006 and 8.8% in 2016) and of asthma with rhinoconjunctivitis (7.6% in 2006 and 7.5% in 2016) remained also at the same level. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis decreased significantly from 2006 (42.7%) to 2016 (39.0%, p = 0.004). Those with physician diagnosed asthma reported significantly less symptoms in 2016 compared to 2006 and 1996, although there was no change in smoking habits or medication use. Young asthmatics (20-29 years) without rhinoconjunctivitis reported least symptoms. CONCLUSION: Previously observed increase of physician-diagnosed asthma prevalence in adults seems to be levelling off in Helsinki, and patients have fewer symptoms than 20 years ago. In addition, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is less frequent than 10 years earlier. (247 words).
Authors: Tari Haahtela; Leena von Hertzen; Josep M Anto; Chunxue Bai; Abay Baigenzhin; Eric D Bateman; Digambar Behera; Kazi Bennoor; Paulo Camargos; Niels Chavannes; Jaime Correia de Sousa; Alvaro Cruz; Maria Do Céu Teixeira; Marina Erhola; Eeva Furman; Bilun Gemicioğlu; Sandra Gonzalez Diaz; Peter W Hellings; Pekka Jousilahti; Nikolai Khaltaev; Vitezslav Kolek; Piotr Kuna; Stefania La Grutta; Le Thi Tuyet Lan; Tamaz Maglakelidze; Mohamed R Masjedi; Florin Mihaltan; Yousser Mohammad; Elizabete Nunes; Arvid Nyberg; Jorge Quel; Jose Rosado-Pinto; Hironori Sagara; Boleslaw Samolinski; Dean Schraufnagel; Talant Sooronbaev; Mohamed Tag Eldin; Teresa To; Arunas Valiulis; Cherian Varghese; Tuula Vasankari; Giovanni Viegi; Tonya Winders; Anahi Yañez; Arzu Yorgancioğlu; Osman Yusuf; Jean Bousquet; Nils E Billo Journal: Clin Transl Allergy Date: 2019-10-30 Impact factor: 5.657
Authors: Heidi Andersén; Pinja Ilmarinen; Jasmin Honkamäki; Leena E Tuomisto; Hanna Hisinger-Mölkänen; Helena Backman; Bo Lundbäck; Eva Rönmark; Tari Haahtela; Anssi Sovijärvi; Lauri Lehtimäki; Päivi Piirilä; Hannu Kankaanranta Journal: ERJ Open Res Date: 2022-01-24
Authors: Heidi Andersén; Pinja Ilmarinen; Jasmin Honkamäki; Leena E Tuomisto; Hanna Hisinger-Mölkänen; Helena Backman; Bo Lundbäck; Eva Rönmark; Lauri Lehtimäki; Anssi Sovijärvi; Päivi Piirilä; Hannu Kankaanranta Journal: J Asthma Allergy Date: 2021-09-07
Authors: Hanna Hisinger-Mölkänen; Jasmin Honkamäki; Hannu Kankaanranta; Leena Tuomisto; Helena Backman; Heidi Andersen; Ari Lindqvist; Lauri Lehtimäki; Anssi Sovijärvi; Eva Rönmark; Paula Pallasaho; Pinja Ilmarinen; Päivi Piirilä Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2022-09-16 Impact factor: 5.516