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Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003
Long-term changes in adult asthma prevalence
1 Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, 2 Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, 3 Section for Medical Statistics, University of Bergen, Bergen, 4 Dept of Thoracic Medicine, National Hospital, University of Oslo, and 5 Institute of Population-based Cancer Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
CORRESPONDENCE: J. Brogger, Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021, Bergen, Norway. Fax: 47 55975149. E-mail: jan.brogger@med.uib.no
Keywords: asthma epidemiology, epidemiological trends, respiratory signs and symptoms
Received: June 28, 2002
Accepted October 17, 2002
This study was supported by the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association and the University of Oslo (both Oslo, Norway) in 1972, and the Norwegian Research Council (Oslo, Norway) and the University of Bergen (Bergen, Norway) in 1998–1999.
There has been an increase in asthma prevalence among children. Little evidence is available regarding long-term changes in asthma prevalence in adults.
Two cross-sectional studies were performed among adults aged 15–70 yrs in Oslo, Norway, in 1972 and again in 1998–1999 (n=39,998). A postal self-completed questionnaire was used. Exactly the same questions and survey methods were used in both studies. In 1998–1999, additional telephone follow-up was included for postal nonresponders.
The crude prevalence of ever having had a doctor's diagnosis of asthma increased from 3.4 to 9.3%. The prevalence of wheezing increased from 17.8 to 25.8% and attacks of breathlessness from 12.6 to 16.7%. After controlling for smoking, the risk of asthma among those aged <40 yrs had tripled. The increase in asthma was 50% greater in females than males. The prevalence of symptoms increased less than asthma diagnosis. Wheezing increased by 50% in those aged <40 yrs, with smaller increases at greater ages. The increase in symptoms was seen among both asthmatics and nonasthmatics.
There has been a large increase in the prevalence of asthma diagnosis and asthma-like symptoms in adults. The increase is less pronounced among those aged >40 yrs.
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