Biomedical subjects

E Omenaas

Publications and source records attributed to E Omenaas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms in relation to indoor dampness: the RHINE study.

BACKGROUND: An association between indoor dampness and respiratory symptoms has been reported, but dampness as a risk factor for the onset or remission of respiratory symptoms and asthma is not well documented. METHOD: This follow up study included 16 190 subjects from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia who had participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS I). Eight years later the same subjects answered a postal questionnaire that included questions on respiratory symptoms and indicators of indoor dampness. RESULTS: Subjects living in damp housing (18%) had a significantly (p<0.001) higher prevalence of wheeze (19.1% v 26.0%), nocturnal breathlessness (4.4% v 8.4%), nocturnal cough (27.2% v 36.5%), productive cough (16.6% v 22.3%) and asthma (6.0% v 7.7%). These associations remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders. Indoor dampness was a risk factor for onset of respiratory symptoms but not for asthma onset in the longitudinal analysis (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.40). Remission of nocturnal symptoms was less common in damp homes (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects living in damp housing had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma. Onset of respiratory symptoms was more common and remission of nocturnal respiratory symptoms was less common in subjects living in damp housing.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Hormone replacement therapy, body mass index and asthma in perimenopausal women: a cross sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and obesity both appear to increase the risk of asthma. A study was undertaken to investigate the association of HRT with asthma and hay fever in a population of perimenopausal women, focusing on a possible interaction with body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to population based samples in Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in 1999-2001, and 8588 women aged 25-54 years responded (77%). Pregnant women, women using oral contraceptives, and women <46 years were excluded. Analyses included 2206 women aged 46-54 years of which 884 were menopausal and 540 used HRT. Stratified analyses by BMI in tertiles were performed. RESULTS: HRT was associated with an increased risk for asthma (OR 1.57 (95% CI 1.07 to 2.30)), wheeze (OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.10)), and hay fever (OR 1.48 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.90)). The associations with asthma and wheeze were significantly stronger among women with BMI in the lower tertile (asthma OR 2.41 (95% CI 1.21 to 4.77); wheeze OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.23 to 3.36)) than in heavier women (asthma: p(interaction) = 0.030; wheeze: p(interaction) = 0.042). Increasing BMI was associated with more asthma (OR 1.08 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.12) per kg/m2). This effect was only found in women not taking HRT (OR 1.10 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.14) per kg/m2); no such association was detected in HRT users (OR 1.00 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.08) per kg/m2) (p(interaction) = 0.046). Menopause was not significantly associated with asthma, wheeze, or hay fever. CONCLUSIONS: In perimenopausal women there is an interaction between HRT and BMI in the effects on asthma. Lean women who were HRT users had as high a risk for asthma as overweight women not taking HRT. It is suggested that HRT and overweight increase the risk of asthma through partly common pathways.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The association between birth size and atopy in young North-European adults.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that atopic disorders may begin in intra-uterine life; however, studies of birth characteristics and atopy show conflicting results. METHODS: We wanted to investigate the association of birth weight and head circumference with serum total or specific IgE, allergic rhinitis or eczema while addressing the influence of demographic and geographical factors. In this historic prospective cohort study, data were collected from birth records for 1683 men and women born in 1947-1973, from six Nordic-Baltic populations participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Blood tests for the measurement of serum total and specific IgE were available for 1494 subjects. In multiple regression analyses, adjustments were made for birth length, gender, age, study centre, adult body mass index, level of education, parental and adult smoking. RESULTS There was no association of birth weight (n=1230) and head circumference (n=285) with serum total IgE, specific IgE antibodies, allergic rhinitis or eczema. There were neither significant interactions by gender or age, nor heterogeneity between the study centres in the analyses of birth weight and adult atopy. CONCLUSION: Birth size was not associated with atopy among adults in this large Nordic-Baltic population study.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Insomnia is more common among subjects living in damp buildings.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a condition with a high prevalence and a great impact on quality of life. Little is known about the relation between and sleep disturbances and the home environment. AIM: To analyse the association between insomnia and building dampness. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, multicentre, population study, 16 190 subjects (mean age 40 years, 53% women) were studied from Reykjavik in Iceland, Bergen in Norway, Umeå, Uppsala, and Göteborg in Sweden, Aarhus in Denmark, and Tartu in Estonia. Symptoms related to insomnia were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Subjects living in houses with reported signs of building dampness (n = 2873) had a higher prevalence of insomnia (29.4 v 23.6%; crude odds ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.48). The association between insomnia and different indicators of building dampness was strongest for floor dampness: "bubbles or discoloration on plastic floor covering or discoloration of parquet floor" (crude odds ratio 1.96, 95% CI 1.66 to 2.32). The associations remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders such as sex, age, smoking history, housing, body mass index, and respiratory diseases. There was no significant difference between the centres in the association between insomnia and building dampness. CONCLUSION: Insomnia is more common in subjects living in damp buildings. This indicates that avoiding dampness in building constructions and improving ventilation in homes may possibly have a positive effect on the quality of sleep.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Association of asthma and hay fever with irregular menstruation.

BACKGROUND: There is some evidence that asthmatic women are more likely to have abnormal sex hormone levels. A study was undertaken to determine whether asthma and allergy were associated with irregular menstruation in a general population, and the potential role of asthma medication for this association. METHODS: A total of 8588 women (response rate 77%) participated in an 8 year follow up postal questionnaire study of participants of the ECRHS stage I in Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Only non-pregnant women not taking exogenous sex hormones were included in the analyses (n = 6137). RESULTS: Irregular menstruation was associated with asthma (OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.13)), asthma symptoms (OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.86)), hay fever (OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.57)), and asthma preceded by hay fever (OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.96)) among women aged 26-42 years. This was also observed in women not taking asthma medication (asthma symptoms: OR 1.44 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.91); hay fever: OR 1.27 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.58); wheeze preceded by hay fever: OR 1.76 (95% CI 1.18 to 2.64)). Irregular menstruation was associated with new onset asthma in younger women (OR 1.58 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.42)) but not in women aged 42-54 years (OR 0.62 (95% CI 0.32 to 1.18)). The results were consistent across centres. CONCLUSIONS: Younger women with asthma and allergy were more likely to have irregular menstruation. This could not be attributed to current use of asthma medication. The association could possibly be explained by common underlying metabolic or developmental factors. The authors hypothesise that insulin resistance may play a role in asthma and allergy.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Incidence of GOLD-defined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general adult population.

SETTING: The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has not previously been examined. OBJECTIVE: To estimate cumulative 9-year GOLD-defined COPD incidence in a general adult Norwegian population, to analyse sex, age, smoking habits and residential area as predictors, and to assess the level of underdiagnosis. DESIGN: Based on a random stratified population sample examined in 1987-1988, 908 adults (71%) participated in a follow-up examination in 1996-1997. Associations between risk factors and COPD incidence were examined with logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of COPD among persons at risk in 1987-1988 was 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.0-8.1). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for current smokers and ex-smokers were 9.6 (95% CI 3.6-25.2) and 5.0 (95% CI 1.8-13.8), compared to never smokers. Risk for COPD incidence further increased with pack years. Subjects aged 45-74 had an OR of 9.8 (95% CI 4.3-22.5) relative to those aged 18-44. Sex and residential area were not significantly associated with COPD incidence. Only 43% of the incident cases had physician-diagnosed asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and/or COPD. CONCLUSION: Approximately 6% developed COPD over 9 years. Smoking and aging were important incidence predictors. Our study suggests a substantial underdiagnosis of COPD among adults in this community.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Is birth weight related to lung function and asthma symptoms in Nordic-Baltic adults?

Studies of birth characteristics and respiratory outcomes show contradictory findings. We wanted to investigate the association of birth weight with adult lung function as well as asthma symptoms while addressing the influence of demographic and environmental factors. Data was collected from the birth records of 1683 men and women born in 1947-1973 who were included in 6 Nordic-Baltic population samples investigated within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). In the adults, an increase in birth weight from below 2500 g to above 4000 g was associated with an increase from 96% to 104% predicted one-second forced expiratory volume (P<0.01) and from 1.00% to 107% predicted forced vital capacity (P<0.01). However, birth weight was not associated with symptoms of asthma. After adjustment for birth length, gender, age, study centre, adult BMI, allergic rhinitis, parental and adult tobacco smoke exposure in multivariate regression analyses, birth weight was not associated with adult lung function or asthma symptoms. Further sub-sample analyses revealed no influence of gestational age, gender, age or geographical area. In this historic prospective cohort study an association was neither found between birth weight and adult lung function nor between birth weight and asthma symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Parental smoking in childhood and adult obstructive lung disease: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Early exposure to parental smoking appears to influence the development of the airways and predispose to respiratory symptoms. A study was undertaken to determine whether the consequences of parental smoking could be traced in adulthood. METHODS: Information from interviewer-led questionnaires was available for 18 922 subjects aged 20-44 years from random population samples in 37 areas participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Lung function data were available for 15,901 subjects. RESULTS: In men, father's smoking in childhood was associated with more respiratory symptoms (ORwheeze 1.13 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.28); never smokers: ORwheeze 1.21 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.50)) and there was a dose-dependent association between number of parents smoking and wheeze (one: OR 1.08 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.24); both: OR 1.24 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.47); ptrend = 0.010). A reduced ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) was related to father's smoking (-0.3% (95% CI -0.6 to 0)) and number of parents smoking (ptrend <0.001) among men. In women, mother's smoking was associated with more respiratory symptoms and poorer lung function (ORwheeze 1.15 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.31), never smokers: ORwheeze 1.21 (95% CI 0.98-1.51); FEV1 -24 ml (95% CI -45 to -3); FEV1/FVC ratio -0.6% (95% CI -0.9 to -0.3)). These effects were possibly accounted for by maternal smoking in pregnancy (ORwheeze 1.39 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.65); FEV1 -23 ml (95% CI -52 to 7); FEV1/FVC ratio -0.9% (95% CI -1.3 to -0.4)) as there was no association with paternal smoking among women (interaction by sex, p<0.05). These results were homogeneous across centres. CONCLUSION: Both intrauterine and environmental exposure to parental tobacco smoking was related to more respiratory symptoms and poorer lung function in adulthood in this multicultural study. The age window of particular vulnerability appeared to differ by sex, postnatal exposure being important only in men and a role for prenatal exposure being more evident in women.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Do farming exposures cause or prevent asthma? Results from a study of adult Norwegian farmers.

BACKGROUND: A protective effect of endotoxin exposure on atopy and asthma in farmers' children has been postulated. Studies of adult farmers have shown conflicting results but often lack exposure data. The prevalence of asthma in farmers with different exposure levels to microbial agents and irritant gases was compared. METHODS: Atopy was defined as a positive response to multiple radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) with a panel of 10 common respiratory allergens, and asthma was ascertained by a questionnaire using a stratified sample (n = 2169) of a farming population from south-eastern Norway. Exposure of farmers to total dust, fungal spores, bacteria, endotoxins, and ammonia was assessed by exposure measurements. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma was 3.7% for physician diagnosed asthma and 2.7% for current asthma. The prevalence of atopy was 14%, but most asthmatic subjects were non-atopic (80%). Compared with farmers without livestock, (1) asthma was significantly higher in cattle farmers (OR(adj) 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) and pig farmers (OR(adj) 1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.5), (2) non-atopic asthma was significantly higher in pig farmers (OR(adj) 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3) and in farmers with two or more types of livestock (OR(adj) 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3), and (3) atopic asthma was less common in farmers with two or more types of livestock (OR(adj) 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.97). Exposure to endotoxins, fungal spores, and ammonia was positively associated with non-atopic asthma and negatively associated with atopic asthma. No associations were found with atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to endotoxins and fungal spores appears to have a protective effect on atopic asthma but may induce non-atopic asthma in farmers.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Obesity and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux are related to onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population. In a 5-10 yr follow-up study of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia, a postal questionnaire was sent to previous respondents. A total of 16,191 participants responded to the questionnaire. Reported onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms as well as nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring increased in prevalence along with the increase in body mass index (BMI). After adjusting for nocturnal GOR, habitual snoring and other confounders, obesity (BMI >30) remained significantly related to the onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms. Nocturnal GOR was independently related to the onset of asthma and in addition, both nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring were independently related to onset of wheeze and night-time symptoms. This study adds evidence to an independent relationship between obesity, nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux and habitual snoring and the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

A prospective study of asthma incidence and its predictors: the RHINE study.

The objective of this longitudinal study was to estimate the incidence rate of asthma, and to compare the incidence between subjects with or without baseline reporting of certain respiratory symptoms. A follow-up of the random population samples in the European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia was conducted in 1999-2001, in a population aged 30-54 yrs at follow-up (n=14,731). Asthma was defined as reporting either asthma or physician-diagnosed asthma, and a reported year when asthma symptoms were first noticed. Incidence rates, incidence rate ratios and hazard ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. The incidence rate of asthma was 2.2 cases per 1,000 person-yrs. The incidence was higher among females (2.9 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1)) than among males (1.5 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1)). When subjects with baseline reporting of wheezing were excluded, the incidence rate decreased to 1.7 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1), with a further decrease to 1.5 cases.1,000 person-yrs(-1) after exclusion of subjects with wheezing, nocturnal dyspnoea, chest tightness and cough. There was a strong association between onset of asthma and wheezing at baseline. In this prospective, population-based study, the incidence rate of asthma in the whole population sample ranged 1.5-2.2.1,000 person-yrs(-1), with a higher incidence range among females. The incidence was dependent on the extent to which subjects with respiratory symptoms were excluded from follow-up. Hence, for comparability between studies, the exclusion criteria in the follow-up population must be stated.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Dietary vitamin C intake is inversely related to cough and wheeze in young smokers.

We aimed to investigate whether dietary vitamin C intake, an important antioxidant, is inversely related to self-reported respiratory symptoms in young adults of a community. A random sample of 4300 subjects, aged 20-44 years, living in Bergen, Norway, received a postal questionnaire on respiratory symptoms; 80% responded. Vitamin C intake (mg per week) was estimated from a food-frequency questionnaire asking how often the subject, during the last year, had consumed units of orange juice, oranges, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. Significant differences in the intake of vitamin C were observed across smoking categories with current smokers having the lowest intake, while there was no variation by gender, age or occupational dust exposure. Dietary vitamin C intake was in univariate analyses inversely related to "morning cough", "chronic cough", "wheeze" and "wheeze ever". After adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, "occupational exposure" pack-years as well as having and stratified on smoking habits in multiple logistic regression analyses, the relationship between dietary vitamin C intake and "cough" and "wheeze" tended to be associated to smoking. The odds ratio (OR) for "morning cough" was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.35-0.95), "chronic cough" OR 0.69 (95% CI: 0.47-1.04) and "wheeze ever" OR 0.75 (95% CI: 0.56-1.01) in current-smokers with dietary vitamin C intake in the upper (> or =395 mg/ week) vs. the lower (<209 mg/week) tertile. The OR for "wheeze" was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.35-0.88) in ex-smokers. The magnitude ofthese effects remained after excluding subjects with supplementary vitamin C intake (n=199) from the statistical analyses. Among young Norwegian adults, having a low prevalence of asthma and high prevalences of smoking-related respiratory symptoms, dietary vitamin C intake may act as an antioxidant and thereby reduce cough and wheeze in smokers having high oxidant stress.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Epidemiological aspects and early detection of chronic obstructive airway diseases in the elderly.

The burdens of chronic obstructive airway diseases among the elderly in Europe, and worldwide, are increasing. Although asthma is common in all ages, the main airway disease affecting the elderly is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this paper is to review the prevalence and incidence of COPD on the basis of population studies. As the prevalence estimates of asthma are probably well known, only the incidence and remission of asthma will be discussed. The underdiagnosis of obstructive airway diseases is huge. A Dutch programme for early detection of obstructive airway disease among the elderly has, thus, been included in the presentation. A prerequisite for fighting COPD is to acquire data on illnesses and death. COPD has only recently been defined by cut-off points of spirometric outcomes, which is why measures of the prevalence of COPD have been distorted by use of a large number of different diagnostic terms and lung function criteria. The prevalence of clinically-relevant COPD has been estimated in several community studies to 4-6% in adult population samples, with a considerable increase by age, particularly among smokers. The incidence of COPD not only increases heavily with age and smoking, but also occupational exposure to dust, gas and damp. Precise estimates of the incidence of COPD or spirometric airflow limitation are not available. Demographic changes will result in a further substantial increase of chronic obstructive airway disorders, mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among the elderly. The increasing burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has to come to the awareness of the public, governments, health authorities, and industry.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Absence of relationship between tuberculin reactivity and asthmatic symptoms, level of FEV1 and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in BCG vaccinated young adults.

BACKGROUND: Some recent studies have suggested that bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination or mycobacterial infection early in life is inversely related to asthma. We wondered if an increase in tuberculin reactivity was inversely related to commonly used indices of asthma in a population of young adults who were BCG vaccinated at age 14. METHODS: Men and women aged 20-44 years, randomly selected from the general population, were tuberculin tested with the epinephrine-Pirquet method with Norwegian-produced synthetic medium tuberculin (n = 588). In addition they were interviewed using eight questions on asthma symptoms and medication. Lung function and bronchial responsiveness were also tested. RESULTS: Altogether 95% of those studied had been BCG vaccinated at age 14 (n = 558). In the 386 subjects with complete examinations, there was no relationship between a positive tuberculin reaction (> or = 4 mm) and asthma symptoms or use of asthma medication. Furthermore we did not observe any relationship between a positive tuberculin reaction and the level of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) or a positive bronchial responsiveness test, assessed as the percent of predicted of FEV1 and PD20 < 2 mg methacholine, respectively. In multiple logistic regression analyses neither respiratory symptoms, level of FEV1, nor bronchial hyperresponsiveness were related to tuberculin reactivity after adjustment for age, gender and smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: In this young adult population who were BCG vaccinated at the age of 14 no significant relationship existed between tuberculin reactivity and asthmatic symptoms, level of FEV1 or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Our data does not support the hypothesis that BCG immunization is beneficial in reducing asthmatic symptoms and disease in young adults.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Tuberculin reactivity: prevalence and predictors in BCG-vaccinated young Norwegian adults.

We studied tuberculin reactivity in young Norwegian adults and its possible dependency on age, gender, previous BCG vaccination, smoking habits, occupational exposure, diet as well as years of education as a measure of socio-economic status. Responders of a random sample of men and women aged 20-44 years living in Bergen, Norway were interviewed and tested withthe adrenaline-Pirquettest with Norwegian-produced synthetic mediumtuberculin at the out-patient chest clinic in the city of Bergen in 1992-1993. Nine hundred and three subjects out of 1200 met for the clinical examination (75%). Five hundred and eighty-eight subjects were tuberculin-tested and read, whereof 95% were BCG vaccinated by age 14. Mean tuberculin reactivity was 4.8 mm (SD: 3.0 mm). A positive reaction (> or = 4 mm) was found in 64%, whereof 7% had a strongly positive reaction (>10 mm). A negative reaction (<4 mm) occurred in 36%, whereof 10% had no reaction (0 mm). Only 30% ofthe females and 36% of the males aged 21--25 years were tuberculin positive 7-12 years after BCG vaccination. Linear regression analysis demonstrated tuberculin reactivity to increase with increasing age, male gender with an increasing sex effect by age, and current smoking. Occupational dust or gas exposure, a diet rich in vitamin C or years of education did not influence tuberculin reactivity significantly.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Early exposure to children in family and day care as related to adult asthma and hay fever: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: The literature indicates that early exposure to children in the family and to day care permanently influences the development of allergic disease. A study was undertaken to examine the associations of family size and day care with adult asthma and hay fever and to determine whether these associations are mediated through specific IgE production and whether they vary with allergic predisposition. METHODS: 18,530 subjects aged 20-44 years from 36 areas predominantly in the market economies participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey and provided information through interviewer-led questionnaires. 13,932 subjects gave blood samples for measurement of specific IgE. RESULTS: Hay fever was less common in subjects with many siblings (OR=0.92; 95% CI 0.90 to 0.95 per sib). There was a U-shaped relationship between asthma and number of siblings (quadratic effect of siblings, pwheeze=0.014, pFEV(1)=0.016). In subjects without siblings but exposed to children in day care, hay fever was less common (OR=0.76; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.98) and asthma symptoms were more common (ORwheeze=1.48; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.95). Adjustment for specific IgEs did not alter these associations. The inverse association of hay fever with siblings was found in sensitised subjects (OR=0.89; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.94) and in those with parental allergy (OR=0.91; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97), but not in subjects without such a predisposition (OR=1.02; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.09). CONCLUSION: Subjects exposed to many children at home or in day care experienced less hay fever and more asthma in adulthood. Microbial challenge through children may contribute to a non-allergic immunological development giving less hay fever but more airways infections predisposing to asthma. These effects were not mediated through production of specific IgE. The protective effect of siblings on hay fever was particularly strong in those with an allergic predisposition.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Consumer surveys among hospitalized patients with lung disease].

BACKGROUND: The aim of our survey was to record the experiences of hospitalised patients with respiratory diseases in order to create a more patient-friendly department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study included 609 patients (response rate 70%) with a median age of 64 years (range 13-91) who were discharged from the Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital in October 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996. 268 patients had obstructive lung disease, 82 had lung cancer. They answered a questionnaire with 24 questions. RESULTS: Patient reception to the ward and staff knowledge of the patients' illnesses, were for the physicians rated as good or better by 92% and 79% and for the nurses by 94% and 70% respectively. 16% of the patients experienced insecurity, 17% anxiety, 12% helplessness, 9% loneliness and 12% little say in the decision making process. Trend factors for these emotional experiences were female sex, old age, obstructive lung disease and long stay in hospital. Patients aged 50 to 69 years and patients with lung cancer had the lowest rate of negative emotional experiences. Despite staff awareness of the prevalence and of the patients' emotional experiences and the risk factors involved, there was no clear reduction of negative experiences in the later surveys compared to the first survey. INTERPRETATION: Patients in a university hospital with respiratory diseases showed unchanged experiences of health care and personal emotions in repeated surveys over a period of five years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Standardized submaximal exercise testing in never smokers: a normative study.

In a population survey on the south-western coast of Norway, 373 never smokers aged 18-73 years (230 women) without respiratory symptoms performed a standardized, progressive, incremental submaximal bicycle exercise test. All individuals were able to do an exercise involving oxygen uptake of 1.0 l min(-1), 80% of the subjects reached 1.5 l min(-1) and 50% of the subjects reached 2.0 l min(-1). The respiratory frequency (RF), ventilation (VE) and heart rate (HR) for a given oxygen uptake were all higher in women than in men. Significant predictors of failure to reach oxygen uptake of 1.5 and 2.0 l min(-1) were sex, age, body height and weight. Prediction equations are given for respiratory frequency, heart rate and ventilation for an oxygen uptake of 1.0 l min(-1) in women and 1.5 l min(-1) in men; and body height is a strong predictor for all dependent variables. A multiple linear regression analysis in women showed that age was a significant predictor of respiratory frequency (P<0.05), ventilation (P<0.001) and heart rate (P<0.001), while in men age was a significant predictor only of ventilation (P<0.001) during the bicycle exercise protocol.

Adolescent↗