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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Jun 24;16(6):e0253322.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253322. eCollection 2021.

Asthma increased in young adults from 2008-2016 despite stable allergic rhinitis and reduced smoking

Styliana Vasileiadou  1 , Linda Ekerljung  2 , Anders Bjerg  3   4 , Emma Goksör  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Asthma increased in young adults from 2008-2016 despite stable allergic rhinitis and reduced smoking

Styliana Vasileiadou et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Studies have produced inconsistent results on prevalence trends in asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). We surveyed young adults about asthma in 2008 and 2016 and examined the impact of gender, AR and smoking.

Methods: Thirty-thousand randomly selected subjects aged 16-75 years in Western Sweden received postal questionnaires in 2008 and 50,000 in 2016. This study is based on responders aged 16-25 years, 2,143 in 2008 and 2,484 in 2016.

Results: From 2008-2016 current asthma increased from 9.3% to 11.5% (p = 0.014) and was significant in males without AR (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.09-3.07) and male smokers (aOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.12-8.13). In both years the risk of current asthma was reduced by growing up on a farm (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.81-0.84 and aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.996), independent of a family history of asthma or allergy. AR did not differ significantly from 2008-2016 (22.5% vs 24.4%, p = 0.144). Current smoking decreased from 20.3% to 15.2% (p<0.001), especially in females (23.5% to 16.2%, p<0.001). Female smokers started smoking later and smoked fewer cigarettes in 2016 than 2008. In 2016, 4.8% of the cohort reported using electronic cigarettes. Of those, 60.7% also smoked tobacco and more than two-thirds who used both (67.2%) were heavy smokers.

Conclusion: Current asthma increased in respondents aged 16-25 from 2008-2016, mainly among males without AR and male smokers. Current AR levelled off in this young population, while current smoking decreased among females.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal´s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following comepting interests: Dr. Goksör report personal fees from Advisory board, Novartis 2019, personal fees from Lecturing, ALK 2019 + 2020, personal fees from Lecturing, Astra Zeneca 2020, personal fees from Lecturing, Mylan/MEDA 2019, outside the submitted work. No other of the authors have any competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Current asthma in relation to allergic rhinitis and gender.
The prevalence of current asthma (CA) among subjects with and without allergic rhinitis (AR) in 2008 and 2016, stratified for gender. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ns = not significant.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Respiratory symptoms in 2008 and 2016.
The prevalence of respiratory symptoms during the last 12 months in 2008 and 2016. SOB = shortness of breath, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 and ns = not significant.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Current asthma and farm living.
The prevalence of current asthma (CA) in 2016 among subjects with and without allergic rhinitis (AR), in relation to growing up on a farm and a family history of asthma or allergy. N/A = not applicable.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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