Prevalence and characteristics of children with chronic respiratory symptoms in eastern Finland

Timonen, K.L.; Pekkanen, Juha; Korppi, Matti; Vahteristo, Mikko; Salonen, R O

doi:10.1183/09031936.95.08071155

Cited by 62 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Recently, a prevalence of 4.4% of doctor-diagnosed asthma was reported among children aged 7-12 yrs in Kuopio, East Finland [6,19], which is consistent with the present results. In Turku, a prevalence of 2.5% of doctor-diagnosed asthma was recently reported among adolescents [16]; which was less than half of that in the present study (7%).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Prevalence of asthma symptoms in video and written questionnaires among children in four regions of Finland

Pekkanen¹,

Remes²,

Husman³

et al. 1997

Eur Respir J

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The aim of this study was to determine whether there are regional differences in the prevalence of childhood asthma in Finland. A secondary objective was to assess the concordance between a written and a video questionnaire on asthma symptoms.In 1994-1995, the self-reported prevalence of asthma symptoms in four regions of Finland was studied among 11,607 schoolchildren aged 13-14 yrs, as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The ISAAC written and video (AVQ 3,0) questionnaires were administered in the school settting.The prevalences of any wheezing during the previous 12 months in the ISAAC video questionnaire were 10% in East Finland (Kuopio County, n=2,821), 12% in South Finland (Helsinki area, n=2,771), 12% in Southwest Finland (Turku and Pori County, n=2,983), and 11% in North Finland (Lapland, n=3,032). The prevalences in the ISAAC written questionnaire were 13, 20, 15, and 16%, respectively. The surveys were performed during winter, except in Helsinki where the survey was carried out mainly during the spring pollen season. During autumn, the prevalence in the written questionnaire in Helsinki was 16%. In multivariate analysis, boys had a lower prevalence than girls, and smokers a threefold higher prevalence than nonsmokers.In conclusion, the prevalence of childhood asthma is lower in Finland than in other European countries, and may be even lower in the eastern part of the country. In contrast to the results from some other European countries, prevalences were lower in the video than in the written questionnaire, which suggests that translating the word "wheezing" into other languages, including Finnish, may produce results that cannot be compared. The strong association of smoking with wheeze both in the video and written questionnaires should be considered in further analysis of the ISAAC study. Eur Respir J 1997; 10: 1787-1794 It has been suggested that the incidence and prevalence of asthma among children is increasing in many countries [1][2][3] including Finland [4]. In Finland, the prevalence of childhood asthma has been reported to be lower than in many European countries, and in East Finland lower than in other parts of the country [5]. These variations may be due to true differences in prevalence, but may also be due to differences in the diagnostic criteria and study methods used.Few surveys have included tests for bronchial hyperresponsiveness or clinical examinations, due to their high cost [6][7][8]. Thus, symptom questionnaires have been the principal instrument for measuring asthma prevalence in community surveys [9]. However, differences in wording of questionnaires and problems with translation hamper comparisons between, and sometimes also within, countries. To address these problems, a video questionnaire on clinical signs and symptoms of asthma has recently been developed and also validated [10] for use in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) [11].The aim of the present study was to evaluate regional diff...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Prevalence of asthma symptoms in video and written questionnaires among children in four regions of Finland

Pekkanen¹,

Remes²,

Husman³

et al. 1997

Eur Respir J

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“…The prevalence of asthma and wheezing was relatively low in comparison with figures reported recently in Europe. However, another Finnish study 6 of children aged 7 to 12 years reported prevalences of 4.4% for doctor-diagnosed asthma and 5.4% for wheezing during the previous 12 months, figures that correspond to those of the present study when the slightly higher age range is taken into account.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…5 That research suggested that minimizing financial barriers to mammography screening does not necessarily ensure high rates of use. 6,7 There were several limitations to our study, however. First, the comparison between the United States and Canada was restricted to Ontario.…”

Section: Contributorsmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children

2000

Am J Public Health

110

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Objectives. The relation between the presence of plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in children was assessed.Methods. This population-based cross-sectional study involved 2568 Finnish children aged 1 to 7 years.Results. In logistic regression models, lower respiratory tract symptoms-persistent wheezing (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13, 10.36), cough (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1. 04, 5.63), and phlegm (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.03, 7.41)-were strongly related to the presence of plastic wall materials, whereas upper respiratory symptoms were not. The risk of asthma (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 0.35, 6.71) and pneumonia (OR=1.81, 95% CI=0.62, 5

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“…The population characteristics are fairly typical of young individuals with well-controlled asthma derived from both primary and secondary care (Table 1) (21). Figure 1A shows the proportion of population on various stages of management as per BTS guidelines with asthma exacerbations over the previous 6 months.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Filaggrin null mutations are associated with increased asthma exacerbations in children and young adults

Basu

Palmer

Lipworth

et al. 2008

Allergy

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Background: Filaggrin (FLG) null mutations are important genetic predisposing factors for atopic asthma and have recently been shown to influence controller and reliever medication needs in asthmatic children. Our objective was to study the role of FLG null alleles in asthma exacerbations.Methods: FLG mutations R501X and 2282del4 were assayed in 1135 individuals ranging from 3 to 22 years old with asthma from Tayside and Dumfries, Scotland. Asthma exacerbations over the previous 6 months were also studied.Results: The FLG mutations were significantly associated with greater risk of exacerbations in children with asthma. Exacerbations were significant for the R501X but not the 2282del4 mutation and the combined genotype compared to the wild‐type with odds ratios of 1.97 (95% CI, 1.19–3.22; P = 0.009) and 1.61 (95% CI, 1.08–2.40; P = 0.021), respectively. Individuals with FLG null alleles were more likely to require oral steroids (31.4%vs 19.5%; OR = 1.89; P = 0.021) for their exacerbations. There was also a 1.71‐fold increased risk (42.6%vs 30%; P = 0.041) of school absence owing to asthma exacerbations in asthmatic individuals with FLG null mutation. On sub‐group analysis, the effect of FLG mutations on asthma exacerbations is significant (P = 0.045) only for participants with relatively mild asthma controlled on inhaled steroids, with inhaled albuterol according to need.Conclusion: In addition to their effect on asthma medication requirements reported previously, there is an association between the presence of FLG null mutations and the risk of asthma exacerbations in asthmatic children and young adults.

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Prevalence and characteristics of children with chronic respiratory symptoms in eastern Finland

Cited by 62 publications

References 36 publications

Prevalence of asthma symptoms in video and written questionnaires among children in four regions of Finland

Prevalence of asthma symptoms in video and written questionnaires among children in four regions of Finland

Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children

Filaggrin null mutations are associated with increased asthma exacerbations in children and young adults

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