Publications
343 results found
Pesce G, Marcon A, Calciano L, et al., 2019, Time and age trends in smoking cessation in Europe, PLoS ONE, Vol: 14, ISSN: 1932-6203
BackgroundSmoking is the main risk factor for most of the leading causes of death. Cessation is the single most important step that smokers can take to improve their health. With the aim of informing policy makers about decisions on future tobacco control strategies, we estimated time and age trends in smoking cessation in Europe between 1980 and 2010.MethodsData on the smoking history of 50,228 lifetime smokers from 17 European countries were obtained from six large population-based studies included in the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts (ALEC) consortium. Smoking cessation rates were assessed retrospectively, and age trends were estimated for three decades (1980–1989, 1990–1999, 2000–2010). The analyses were stratified by sex and region (North, East, South, West Europe).ResultsOverall, 21,735 subjects (43.3%) quit smoking over a total time-at-risk of 803,031 years. Cessation rates increased between 1980 and 2010 in young adults (16–40 years), especially females, from all the regions, and in older adults (41–60 years) from North Europe, while they were stable in older adults from East, South and West Europe. In the 2000s, the cessation rates for men and women combined were highest in North Europe (49.9 per 1,000/year) compared to the other regions (range: 26.5–32.7 per 1,000/year). A sharp peak in rates was observed for women around the age of 30, possibly as a consequence of pregnancy-related smoking cessation. In most regions, subjects who started smoking before the age of 16 were less likely to quit than those who started later.ConclusionsOur findings suggest an increasing awareness on the detrimental effects of smoking across Europe. However, East, South and West European countries are lagging behind North Europe, suggesting the need to intensify tobacco control strategies in these regions. Additional efforts should be made to keep young adolescents away from taking up smoking, as early initiation could make quitting more ch
Janson C, Accordini S, Cazzoletti L, et al., 2019, Pharmacological treatment of asthma in a cohort of adults during a 20-year period: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I, II and III, ERJ Open Research, Vol: 5, ISSN: 2312-0541
Asthma often remains uncontrolled, despite the fact that the pharmacological treatment has undergone large changes. We studied changes in the treatment of asthma over a 20-year period and identified factors associated with the regular use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment. Changes in the use of medication were determined in 4617 randomly selected subjects, while changes in adults with persistent asthma were analysed in 369 participants. The study compares data from three surveys in 24 centres in 11 countries. The use of ICSs increased from 1.7% to 5.9% in the general population and the regular use of ICSs increased from 19% to 34% among persistent asthmatic subjects. The proportion of asthmatic subjects reporting asthma attacks in the last 12 months decreased, while the proportion that had seen a doctor in the last 12 months remained unchanged (42%). Subjects with asthma who had experienced attacks or had seen a doctor were more likely to use ICSs on a regular basis. Although ICS use has increased, only one-third of subjects with persistent asthma take ICSs on a regular basis. Less than half had seen a doctor during the last year. This indicates that underuse of ICSs and lack of regular healthcare contacts remains a problem in the management of asthma.
Triebner K, Accordini S, Calciano L, et al., 2019, Exogenous female sex steroids may reduce lung ageing after menopause: A 20-year follow-up study of a general population sample (ECRHS), Maturitas, Vol: 120, Pages: 29-34, ISSN: 0378-5122
OBJECTIVES: Menopause involves hypoestrogenism, which is associated with numerous detrimental effects, including on respiratory health. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often used to improve symptoms of menopause. The effects of HRT on lung function decline, hence lung ageing, have not yet been investigated despite the recognized effects of HRT on other health outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: The population-based multi-centre European Community Respiratory Health Survey provided complete data for 275 oral HRT users at two time points, who were matched with 383 nonusers and analysed with a two-level linear mixed effects regression model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We studied whether HRT use was associated with the annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). RESULTS: Lung function of women using oral HRT for more than five years declined less rapidly than that of nonusers. The adjusted difference in FVC decline was 5.6 mL/y (95%CI: 1.8 to 9.3, p = 0.01) for women who had taken HRT for six to ten years and 8.9 mL/y (3.5 to 14.2, p = 0.003) for those who had taken it for more than ten years. The adjusted difference in FEV1 decline was 4.4 mL/y (0.9 to 8.0, p = 0.02) with treatment from six to ten years and 5.3 mL/y (0.4 to 10.2, p = 0.048) with treatment for over ten years. CONCLUSIONS: In this longitudinal population-based study, the decline in lung function was less rapid in women who used HRT, following a dose-response pattern, and consistent when adjusting for potential confounding factors. This may signify that female sex hormones are of importance for lung ageing.
Carsin AE, Fuertes E, Schaffner E, et al., 2019, Restrictive spirometry pattern is associated with low physical activity levels. A population based international study, Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 146, Pages: 116-123, ISSN: 0954-6111
Introduction: Restrictive spirometry pattern is an under-recognised disorder with a poor morbidity and mortality prognosis. We compared physical activity levels between adults with a restrictive spirometry pattern and with normal spirometry. Methods: Restrictive spirometry pattern was defined as a having post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≥ Lower Limit of Normal and a FVC<80% predicted in two population-based studies (ECRHS-III and SAPALDIA3). Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The odds of having low physical activity (<1st study-specific tertile) was evaluated using adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Subjects with a restrictive spirometry pattern (n = 280/4721 in ECRHS, n = 143/3570 in SAPALDIA) reported lower levels of physical activity than those with normal spirometry (median of 1770 vs 2253 MET·min/week in ECRHS, and 3519 vs 3945 MET·min/week in SAPALDIA). Subjects with a restrictive spirometry pattern were more likely to report low physical activity (meta-analysis odds ratio: 1.41 [95%CI 1.07–1.86]) than those with a normal spirometry. Obesity, respiratory symptoms, co-morbidities and previous physical activity levels did not fully explain this finding. Conclusion: Adults with a restrictive spirometry pattern were more likely to report low levels of physical activity than those with normal spirometry. These results highlight the need to identify and act on this understudied but prevalent condition.
Mahmoud O, Granell R, Tilling K, et al., 2018, Association of height growth in puberty with lung function: a longitudinal study, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 198, Pages: 1539-1548, ISSN: 1073-449X
RATIONALE: Puberty may influence lung function, but the precise role of pubertal height growth in lung development is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of timing of puberty and peak velocity of pubertal height growth with lung function in adolescence and early-adulthood. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses of repeat height measurements from age 5-20 years for a British birth cohort with 4,772 males and 4,849 females were conducted to characterise height growth trajectories, and derive pubertal age and peak height velocity using the validated SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) model. Association of these estimates with pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry measures: FEV1; FVC; FEV1/FVC; FEF25-75 at age 15 and 24 years were investigated using multivariable regression models adjusted for lung function at age 8 years, height and age at time of outcome measurements, and potential confounders. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Later pubertal age and greater peak velocity were associated with higher FEV1 and FVC at 24 years in both sexes. A 1-year advanced pubertal age was associated with a 263 ml higher FVC (95% confidence interval: 167, 360) for males (n=567), 100 ml (50, 150) for females (n=990). A 1-cm/year increase in peak velocity was associated with 145 ml (56, 234) and 50 ml (2, 99) increase in FVC for males and females respectively. No associations were found with FEV1/FVC. CONCLUSIONS: Later onset and greater peak velocity of height growth in puberty are associated with increased FEV1 and FVC in young adults but there was no evidence of dysanapsis of pubertal lung growth.
Fuertes EI, Markevych I, Jarvis D, et al., 2018, Residential air pollution does not modify the positive association between physical activity and lung function in current smokers in the ECRHS study, Environment International, Vol: 120, Pages: 364-372, ISSN: 0160-4120
BackgroundVery few studies have examined whether a long-term beneficial effect of physical activity on lung function can be influenced by living in polluted urban areas.ObjectiveWe assessed whether annual average residential concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and <10 μm (PM10) modify the effect of physical activity on lung function among never- (N = 2801) and current (N = 1719) smokers in the multi-center European Community Respiratory Health Survey.MethodsAssociations between repeated assessments (at 27–57 and 39–67 years) of being physically active (physical activity: ≥2 times and ≥1 h per week) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were evaluated using adjusted mixed linear regression models. Models were conducted separately for never- and current smokers and stratified by residential long-term NO2, PM2.5 mass and PM10 mass concentrations (≤75th percentile (low/medium) versus >75th percentile (high)).ResultsAmong current smokers, physical activity and lung function were positively associated regardless of air pollution levels. Among never-smokers, physical activity was associated with lung function in areas with low/medium NO2, PM2.5 mass and PM10 mass concentrations (e.g. mean difference in FVC between active and non-active subjects was 43.0 mL (13.6, 72.5), 49.5 mL (20.1, 78.8) and 49.7 mL (18.6, 80.7), respectively), but these associations were attenuated in high air pollution areas. Only the interaction term of physical activity and PM10 mass for FEV1 among never-smokers was significant (p-value = 0.03).ConclusionsPhysical activity has beneficial effects on adult lung function in current smokers, irrespective of residential air pollution levels in Western Europe. Trends among never-smokers living in high air pollution areas are less clear.
Lytras T, Kogevinas M, Kromhout H, et al., 2018, Occupational exposures and 20-year incidence of COPD: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey, Thorax, Vol: 73, Pages: 1008-1015, ISSN: 1468-3296
Background: Occupational exposures have been associated with an increased risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, few studies have related objectively-assessed occupational exposures to prospectively-assessed incidence of COPD, using post-bronchodilator lung function tests. Our objective was to examine the effect of occupational exposures on COPD incidence in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Methods: General population samples aged 20-44 were randomly selected in 1991-1993, and followed up 20 years later (2010-2012). Spirometry was performed at baseline and at follow-up, with incident COPD defined using a Lower Limit of Normal (LLN) criterion for post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC. Only participants without COPD and without current asthma at baseline were included. Coded job histories during follow-up were linked to a Job-Exposure Matrix, generating occupational exposure estimates to twelve categories of agents. Their association with COPD incidence was examined in log-binomial models fitted in a Bayesian framework. Findings: 3,343 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria; 89 of them had COPD at follow-up (1.4 cases/1000 person-years). Participants exposed to biological dust had a higher incidence of COPD compared to those unexposed (RR=1.6, 95% Credible Interval: 1.1 – 2.3), as did those exposed to gases & fumes (RR=1.5, 95%CrI: 1.0 – 2.2) and pesticides (RR=2.2, 95%CrI: 1.1 – 3.8). The combined Population Attributable Fraction for these exposures was 21.0%. Interpretation: These results substantially strengthen the evidence base for occupational exposures as an important risk factor for COPD.
Janson C, Johannessen A, Franklin K, et al., 2018, Change in the prevalence asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptom over a 20 year period: associations to year of birth, life style and sleep related symptoms, BMC Pulmonary Medicine, Vol: 18, ISSN: 1471-2466
Background:The aim of this investigation was to study change in adults over a 20 year period in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders and its association to year of birth, life style and sleep related variables.Method:Adults 20–44 years of age, 6085 women and 5184 men, were randomly selected from seven centres in Northern Europe and followed for 20 years. The number of participants in the first survey was 21,595 and 11,269 participated in all three surveys. The participants were divided into three birth cohorts: 1944–1955, 1956–1965 and 1966–1975.Results:During the 20 year period the prevalence of wheeze decreased (− 2%) and the prevalence of asthma (+ 4%) and allergic rhinitis (+ 5%) increased, whereas the prevalence of nocturnal respiratory symptoms was relatively unchanged. The increase in allergic rhinitis was largest in those born 1966 to 1975 except in Estonia. There was large decrease in smoking (− 20%), increase in obesity (+ 7%) and snoring (+ 6%) during the study period. Smoking, obesity, snoring and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER) were related to a higher risk of all symptoms. Obesity, snoring and nGER were also independently related to asthma.Conclusion:We conclude that as our participants got older there was a decrease in wheeze, no change in nocturnal symptoms and an increase in reported asthma and allergic rhinitis. These changes in prevalence are probably related to a decrease in smoking being counteracted by an increase in allergy, obesity and sleep related disorders.
Bui DS, Walters HE, Burgess JA, et al., 2018, Childhood respiratory risk factor profiles, their interactions and mediators, and middle-age lung function: a prospective cohort study from the 1st to 6th decade, Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Vol: 15, Pages: 1057-1066, ISSN: 2329-6933
RATIONALE: Childhood risk factors for long-term lung health often co-exist and their specific patterns may affect subsequent lung function differently. OBJECTIVES: To identify childhood risk factor profiles, their influence on lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in middle-age and potential pathways. METHODS: Profiles of 11 childhood respiratory risk factors, documented at age 7, were identified in 8352 participants from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study using latent class analysis. We investigated: associations between risk profiles and lung function, and COPD at age 53; mediation by childhood lung function and adult asthma; and interaction with personal smoking. RESULTS: Six risk profiles were identified: 1-"unexposed or least exposed" (49%), 2-"parental smoking" (21.5%), 3-"allergy" (10%), 4-"frequent asthma, bronchitis" (8.7%), 5-"infrequent asthma, bronchitis" (8.3%) and 6-"frequent asthma, bronchitis, allergy" (2.6%). Profile 6 was most strongly associated with lower FEV1:(-261;95%CI:-373,-148 mL); lower FEV1/FVC:(-3.4; -4.8,-1.9%) and increased COPD risk (OR:4.9; 2.1,11.0) at age 53. The effect of profile 6 on COPD was largely mediated by adult active asthma (62.5%) and reduced childhood lung function (26.5%). Profiles 2 and 4 had smaller adverse effects than profile 6. Notably effects of profiles 2 and 6 were stronger for smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Profiles of childhood respiratory risk factors predict middle-age lung function and COPD risk. Adult active asthma is a dominant mediator in associations between childhood asthma-related risk profiles and middle-age lung function/COPD. Specifically, children with frequent asthma attacks and allergies, especially if they also become adult smokers, are the most vulnerable group that should be targeted for interventions.
Wielscher M, Amaral AFS, Jarvelin M, et al., 2018, SERPINA1 methylation and lung function in tobacco-smoke exposed European children and adults: a meta-analysis of ALEC population-based cohorts, Respiratory Research, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1465-9921
BackgroundThe pathophysiological role of SERPINA1 in respiratory health may be more strongly determined by the regulation of its expression than by common genetic variants. A family based study of predominantly smoking adults found methylation at two Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine sites (CpGs) in SERPINA1 gene to be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk. The objective of this study was to confirm the association of lung function with SERPINA1 methylation in general population samples by testing a comprehensive set of CpGs in the SERPINA gene cluster. We considered lung function level and decline in adult smokers from three European population-based cohorts and lung function level and growth in tobacco-smoke exposed children from a birth cohort.MethodsDNA methylation using Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 k and EPIC beadchips and lung function were measured at two time points in 1076 SAPALDIA, ECRHS and NFBC adult cohort participants and 259 ALSPAC children. Associations of methylation at 119 CpG sites in the SERPINA gene cluster (PP4R4-SERPINA13P) with lung functions and circulating alpha-1-antitripsin (AAT) were assessed using multivariable cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models.ResultsMethylation at cg08257009 in the SERPINA gene cluster, located 32 kb downstream of SERPINA1, not annotated to a gene, was associated with FEV1/FVC at the Bonferroni corrected level in adults, but not in children. None of the methylation signals in the SERPINA1 gene showed associations with lung function after correcting for multiple testing.ConclusionsThe results do not support a role of SERPINA1 gene methylation as determinant of lung function across the life course in the tobacco smoke exposed general population exposed.
Marcon A, Pesce G, Calciano L, et al., 2018, Trends in smoking initiation in Europe over 40 years: a retrospective cohort study, PLoS ONE, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1932-6203
Background:Tobacco consumption is the largest avoidable health risk. Understanding changes of smoking over time and across populations is crucial to implementing health policies. We evaluated trends in smoking initiation between 1970 and 2009 in random samples of European populations.Methods:We pooled data from six multicentre studies involved in the Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts consortium, including overall 119,104 subjects from 17 countries (range of median ages across studies: 33–52 years). We estimated retrospectively trends in the rates of smoking initiation (uptake of regular smoking) by age group, and tested birth cohort effects using Age-Period-Cohort (APC) modelling. We stratified all analyses by sex and region (North, East, South, West Europe).Results:Smoking initiation during late adolescence (16–20 years) declined for both sexes and in all regions (except for South Europe, where decline levelled off after 1990). By the late 2000s, rates of initiation during late adolescence were still high (40–80 per 1000/year) in East, South, and West Europe compared to North Europe (20 per 1000/year). Smoking initiation rates during early adolescence (11–15 years) showed a marked increase after 1990 in all regions (except for North European males) but especially in West Europe, where they reached 40 per 1000/year around 2005. APC models supported birth cohort effects in the youngest cohorts.Conclusion:Smoking initiation is still unacceptably high among European adolescents, and increasing rates among those aged 15 or less deserve attention. Reducing initiation in adolescents is fundamental, since youngsters are particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction and tobacco adverse effects.
Minelli C, van der Plaat DA, Leynaert B, et al., 2018, Age at puberty and risk of asthma: A Mendelian randomisation study, PLoS Medicine, Vol: 15, ISSN: 1549-1277
BackgroundObservational studies on pubertal timing and asthma, mainly performed in females, have provided conflicting results about a possible association of early puberty with higher risk of adult asthma, possibly due to residual confounding. To overcome issues of confounding, we used Mendelian randomisation (MR), i.e., genetic variants were used as instrumental variables to estimate causal effects of early puberty on post-pubertal asthma in both females and males.Methods and findingsMR analyses were performed in UK Biobank on 243,316 women using 254 genetic variants for age at menarche, and on 192,067 men using 46 variants for age at voice breaking. Age at menarche, recorded in years, was categorised as early (<12), normal (12–14), or late (>14); age at voice breaking was recorded and analysed as early (younger than average), normal (about average age), or late (older than average). In females, we found evidence for a causal effect of pubertal timing on asthma, with an 8% increase in asthma risk for early menarche (odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12; p = 8.7 × 10−5) and an 8% decrease for late menarche (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.97; p = 3.4 × 10−4), suggesting a continuous protective effect of increasing age at puberty. In males, we found very similar estimates of causal effects, although with wider confidence intervals (early voice breaking: OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.16; p = 0.06; late voice breaking: OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99; p = 0.03). We detected only modest pleiotropy, and our findings showed robustness when different methods to account for pleiotropy were applied. BMI may either introduce pleiotropy or lie on the causal pathway; secondary analyses excluding variants associated with BMI yielded similar results to those of the main analyses. Our study relies on self-reported exposures and outcomes, which may have particularly affected the power of the analyses on age at voice breaking.ConclusionsThis large MR stud
Accordini S, Calciano L, Johannessen A, et al., 2018, A three-generation study on the association of tobacco smoking with asthma, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol: 47, Pages: 1106-1117, ISSN: 1464-3685
BackgroundMothers’ smoking during pregnancy increases asthma risk in their offspring. There is some evidence that grandmothers’ smoking may have a similar effect, and biological plausibility that fathers’ smoking during adolescence may influence offspring’s health through transmittable epigenetic changes in sperm precursor cells. We evaluated the three-generation associations of tobacco smoking with asthma.MethodsBetween 2010 and 2013, at the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III clinical interview, 2233 mothers and 1964 fathers from 26 centres reported whether their offspring (aged ≤51 years) had ever had asthma and whether it had coexisted with nasal allergies or not. Mothers and fathers also provided information on their parents’ (grandparents) and their own asthma, education and smoking history. Multilevel mediation models within a multicentre three-generation framework were fitted separately within the maternal (4666 offspring) and paternal (4192 offspring) lines.ResultsFathers’ smoking before they were 15 [relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.01] and mothers’ smoking during pregnancy (RRR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01–1.59) were associated with asthma without nasal allergies in their offspring. Grandmothers’ smoking during pregnancy was associated with asthma in their daughters [odds ratio (OR) = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.17–2.06] and with asthma with nasal allergies in their grandchildren within the maternal line (RRR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.02–1.55).ConclusionsFathers’ smoking during early adolescence and grandmothers’ and mothers’ smoking during pregnancy may independently increase asthma risk in offspring. Thus, risk factors for asthma should be sought in both parents and before conception.
Waage J, Standl M, Curtin JA, et al., 2018, Genome-wide association and HLA fine-mapping studies identify risk loci and genetic pathways underlying allergic rhinitis, Nature Genetics, Vol: 50, Pages: 1072-1080, ISSN: 1061-4036
Allergic rhinitis is the most common clinical presentation of allergy, affecting 400 million people worldwide, and with increasing incidence in westernized countries.1,2 To elucidate the genetic architecture and understand disease mechanisms of allergic rhinitis, we carried out a meta-analysis of allergic rhinitis in 59,762 cases and 152,358 controls of European ancestry and identified a total of 41 risk loci for allergic rhinitis, including 20 loci not previously associated with allergic rhinitis, which were confirmed in a replication phase of 60,720 cases and 618,527 controls. Functional annotation implied genes involved in various immune pathways, and fine mapping of the HLA region suggested amino acid variants of importance for antigen binding. We further performed GWASs of allergic sensitization against inhalant allergens and non-allergic rhinitis suggesting shared genetic mechanisms across rhinitis-related traits. Future studies of the identified loci and genes might identify novel targets for treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis.
Bui DS, Lodge CJ, Burgess JA, et al., 2018, Childhood predictors of lung function trajectories and future COPD risk: a prospective cohort study from the first to the sixth decade of life, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 6, Pages: 535-544, ISSN: 2213-2600
BackgroundLifetime lung function is related to quality of life and longevity. Over the lifespan, individuals follow different lung function trajectories. It is important to identify these trajectories, their determinants and outcomes but no study has done this beyond the fourth decade. MethodsWe modelled trajectories of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) measured at 7, 13, 18, 45, 50 and 53 years (n=2438). The trajectories identified were then related to childhood factors and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) risk. FindingsSix trajectories were identified: “early below average, accelerated decline” (4%, n=97), “persistently low” (5·6%, n=136), “below average” (31·6%, n=772), “persistently high” (12·1%, n=293), “early low, accelerated growth, normal decline” (8%, n=196), and “average” (38·7%, n=944). The first three trajectories had increased risk of COPD at age 53 compared with the average group: OR 35(95%CI 19·5-64); 9·5(4·5-20·6); and 3·7(1·9-6·9) respectively. Early-life predictors of the three trajectories included childhood asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, hayfever, eczema, parental asthma, and maternal smoking. Personal smoking and active adult asthma increased the impact of maternal smoking and childhood asthma respectively on the “early below average, accelerated decline” trajectory. InterpretationWe identified six potential FEV1 trajectories, two of which were novel. Three trajectories contributed 75% of COPD burden and were associated with modifiable early-life exposures whose impact was aggravated by adult factors. We postulate that reducing maternal smoking; encouraging immunization; and avoiding personal smoking, especially in those with smoking parents and/or low childhood lung function, may minimize COPD risk. Clinicians and asthmatic patients should be made aware of the pot
Erbas B, Knudsen TM, Janson C, et al., 2018, Critical age windows in the impact of lifetime smoking exposure on respiratory symptoms and disease among ever smokers, Environmental Research, Vol: 164, Pages: 241-247, ISSN: 0013-9351
Background: Despite extensive knowledge of smoking effects on respiratory disease, there is no study including all age windows of exposure among ever smokers. The objective of this study was to assess the effects from smoking exposure in utero, early childhood, adolescence and adulthood on respiratory health outcomes in adult men and women ever smokers. Methods: Respiratory health outcomes were assessed in 10610 participants of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) I who reported history of ever smoking by questionnaire. The associations of maternal smoking in utero, maternal smoking during childhood, age of smoking debut and pack-years of smoking with respiratory symptoms, obstructive diseases and bronchial hyperreactivity were analysed using generalized linear regression and non-linearity between age of smoking debut and outcomes were assessed by Generalized additive mixed models. Results: Respiratory symptoms and asthma were more frequent in adults if their mother smoked during pregnancy, and, in men, also if mother smoked in childhood. Wheeze and ≥3 respiratory symptoms declined with later smoking debut among women [≤10 years: OR=3.51, 95% CI 1.26, 9.73; 11-12 years: 1.57[1.01-2.44]; 13-15 years: 1.11[0.94-1.32] and ≤10 years: 3.74[1.56-8.83]; 11-12 years: 1.76[1.19-2.56]; 13-15 years: 1.12[0.94-1.35], respectively]. Effects with increasing number of packyears were pronounced in women (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): OR/10 packyears women: 1.33 [1.18, 1.50], men: 1.14 [1.04, 1.26] pinteraction=0.01). Conclusions: Among ever smokers, smoking exposure in each stage of the lifespan show persistent harmful effects for adult respiratory health, while women appeared to be more vulnerable to an early age of smoking debut and amount of smoking in adulthood.
Matheson MC, Bowatte G, Perret JL, et al., 2018, Prediction models for the development of COPD: a systematic review, International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Vol: 2018, Pages: 1927-1935, ISSN: 1176-9106
Real FG, Burgess JA, Villani S, et al., 2018, Maternal age at delivery, lung function and asthma in offspring: a population-based survey, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 51, ISSN: 0903-1936
There is limited information about potential impact of maternal age on the respiratory health of offspring. We investigated the association of maternal age at delivery with adult offspring's lung function, respiratory symptoms and asthma, and potential differences according to offspring sex.10 692 adults from 13 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II responded to standardised interviews and provided lung function measurements and serum for IgE measurements at age 25–55 years. In logistic and linear multilevel mixed models we adjusted for participants’ characteristics (age, education, centre, number of older siblings) and maternal characteristics (smoking in pregnancy, education) while investigating for differential effects by sex. Maternal age was validated in a subsample using data from the Norwegian birth registry.Increasing maternal age was associated with increasing forced expiratory volume in 1 s (2.33 mL per year, 95% CI 0.34–4.32 mL per year), more consistent in females (ptrend 0.025) than in males (ptrend 0.14). Asthma (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.92) and respiratory symptoms (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.82–0.92) decreased with increasing maternal age (per 5 years) in females, but not in males (pinteraction 0.05 and 0.001, respectively). The results were consistent across centres and not explained by confounding factors.Maternal ageing was related to higher adult lung function and less asthma/symptoms in females. Biological characteristics in offspring related to maternal ageing are plausible and need further investigation.
Burte E, Leynaert B, Bono R, et al., 2018, Association between air pollution and rhinitis incidence in two European cohorts, Environment International, Vol: 115, Pages: 257-266, ISSN: 0160-4120
BACKGROUND: The association between air pollution and rhinitis is not well established. AIM: The aim of this longitudinal analysis was to study the association between modeled air pollution at the subjects' home addresses and self-reported incidence of rhinitis. METHODS: We used data from 1533 adults from two multicentre cohorts' studies (EGEA and ECRHS). Rhinitis incidence was defined as reporting rhinitis at the second follow-up (2011 to 2013) but not at the first follow-up (2000 to 2007). Annual exposure to NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 at the participants' home addresses was estimated using land-use regression models developed by the ESCAPE project for the 2009-2010 period. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were computed using Poisson regression. Pooled analysis, analyses by city and meta-regression testing for heterogeneity were carried out. RESULTS: No association between long-term air pollution exposure and incidence of rhinitis was found (adjusted IRR (aIRR) for an increase of 10 μg·m-3 of NO2: 1.00 [0.91-1.09], for an increase of 5 μg·m-3 of PM2.5: 0.88 [0.73-1.04]). Similar results were found in the two-pollutant model (aIRR for an increase of 10 μg·m-3 of NO2: 1.01 [0.87-1.17], for an increase of 5 μg·m-3 of PM2.5: 0.87 [0.68-1.08]). Results differed depending on the city, but no regional pattern emerged for any of the pollutants. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find any consistent evidence of an association between long-term air pollution and incident rhinitis.
Marcon A, Locatelli F, Keidel D, et al., 2018, Airway responsiveness to methacholine and incidence of COPD: an international prospective cohort study, Thorax, Vol: 73, Pages: 825-832, ISSN: 1468-3296
BACKGROUND: It has been debated, but not yet established, whether increased airway responsiveness can predict COPD. Recognising this link may help in identifying subjects at risk. OBJECTIVE: We studied prospectively whether airway responsiveness is associated with the risk of developing COPD. METHODS: We pooled data from two multicentre cohort studies that collected data from three time points using similar methods (European Community Respiratory Health Survey and Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults). We classified subjects (median age 37 years, 1st-3rd quartiles: 29-44) by their level of airway responsiveness using quintiles of methacholine dose-response slope at the first examination (1991-1994). Then, we excluded subjects with airflow obstruction at the second examination (1999-2003) and analysed incidence of COPD (postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal) at the third examination (2010-2014) as a function of responsiveness, adjusting for sex, age, education, body mass index, history of asthma, smoking, occupational exposures and indicators of airway calibre. RESULTS: We observed 108 new cases of COPD among 4205 subjects during a median time of 9 years. Compared with the least responsive group (incidence rate 0.6 per 1000/year), adjusted incidence rate ratios for COPD ranged from 1.79 (95% CI 0.52 to 6.13) to 8.91 (95% CI 3.67 to 21.66) for increasing airway responsiveness. Similar dose-response associations were observed between smokers and non-smokers, and stronger associations were found among subjects without a history of asthma or asthma-like symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that increased airway responsiveness is an independent risk factor for COPD. Further research should clarify whether early treatment in patients with high responsiveness can slow down disease progression.
Svanes O, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, et al., 2018, Cleaning at home and at work in relation to lung function decline and airway obstruction, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 197, Pages: 1157-1163, ISSN: 1073-449X
Rationale: Cleaning tasks may imply exposure to chemical agents with potential harmful effects to the respiratory system, and increased risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms among professional cleaners and in persons cleaning at home has been reported. Long-term consequences of cleaning agents on respiratory health are, however, not well described.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate long-term effects of occupational cleaning and cleaning at home on lung function decline and airway obstruction.Methods: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigated a multicenter population-based cohort at three time points over 20 years. A total of 6,235 participants with at least one lung function measurement from 22 study centers, who in ECRHS II responded to questionnaire modules concerning cleaning activities between ECRHS I and ECRHS II, were included. The data were analyzed with mixed linear models adjusting for potential confounders.Measurements and Main Results: As compared with women not engaged in cleaning (ΔFEV1 = −18.5 ml/yr), FEV1 declined more rapidly in women responsible for cleaning at home (−22.1; P = 0.01) and occupational cleaners (−22.4; P = 0.03). The same was found for decline in FVC (ΔFVC = −8.8 ml/yr; −13.1, P = 0.02; and −15.9, P = 0.002; respectively). Both cleaning sprays and other cleaning agents were associated with accelerated FEV1 decline (−22.0, P = 0.04; and −22.9, P = 0.004; respectively). Cleaning was not significantly associated with lung function decline in men or with FEV1/FVC decline or airway obstruction.Conclusions: Women cleaning at home or working as occupational cleaners had accelerated decline in lung function, suggesting that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health.
Lonnebotn M, Svanes C, Igland J, et al., 2018, Body silhouettes as a tool to reflect obesity in the past, PLoS ONE, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1932-6203
Life course data on obesity may enrich the quality of epidemiologic studies analysing health consequences of obesity. However, achieving such data may require substantial resources.We investigated the use of body silhouettes in adults as a tool to reflect obesity in the past. We used large population-based samples to analyse to what extent self-reported body silhouettes correlated with the previously measured (9–23 years) body mass index (BMI) from both measured (European Community Respiratory Health Survey, N = 3 041) and self-reported (Respiratory Health In Northern Europe study, N = 3 410) height and weight. We calculated Spearman correlation between BMI and body silhouettes and ROC-curve analyses for identifying obesity (BMI ≥30) at ages 30 and 45 years. Spearman correlations between measured BMI age 30 (±2y) or 45 (±2y) and body silhouettes in women and men were between 0.62–0.66 and correlations for self-reported BMI were between 0.58–0.70. The area under the curve for identification of obesity at age 30 using body silhouettes vs previously measured BMI at age 30 (±2y) was 0.92 (95% CI 0.87, 0.97) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.75, 0.95) in women and men, respectively; for previously self-reported BMI, 0.92 (95% CI 0.88, 0.95) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.85, 0.96). Our study suggests that body silhouettes are a useful epidemiological tool, enabling retrospective differentiation of obesity and non-obesity in adult women and men.
Wise SK, Lin SY, Toskala E, et al., 2018, International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: allergic rhinitis., International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, Vol: 8, Pages: 108-352, ISSN: 2042-6976
BACKGROUND: Critical examination of the quality and validity of available allergic rhinitis (AR) literature is necessary to improve understanding and to appropriately translate this knowledge to clinical care of the AR patient. To evaluate the existing AR literature, international multidisciplinary experts with an interest in AR have produced the International Consensus statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis (ICAR:AR). METHODS: Using previously described methodology, specific topics were developed relating to AR. Each topic was assigned a literature review, evidence-based review (EBR), or evidence-based review with recommendations (EBRR) format as dictated by available evidence and purpose within the ICAR:AR document. Following iterative reviews of each topic, the ICAR:AR document was synthesized and reviewed by all authors for consensus. RESULTS: The ICAR:AR document addresses over 100 individual topics related to AR, including diagnosis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, disease burden, risk factors for the development of AR, allergy testing modalities, treatment, and other conditions/comorbidities associated with AR. CONCLUSION: This critical review of the AR literature has identified several strengths; providers can be confident that treatment decisions are supported by rigorous studies. However, there are also substantial gaps in the AR literature. These knowledge gaps should be viewed as opportunities for improvement, as often the things that we teach and the medicine that we practice are not based on the best quality evidence. This document aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the AR literature to identify areas for future AR research and improved understanding.
Pekkanen J, Valkonen M, Täubel M, et al., 2018, Indoor bacteria and asthma in adults: a multicentre case–control study within ECRHS II, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 51, ISSN: 0903-1936
Both protective and adverse effects of indoor microbial exposure on asthma have been reported, but mostly in children. To date, no study in adults has used non-targeted methods for detection of indoor bacteria followed by quantitative confirmation.A cross-sectional study of 198 asthmatic and 199 controls was conducted within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II. DNA was extracted from mattress dust for bacterial analysis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Selected bands were sequenced and associations with asthma confirmed with four quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays.15 out of 37 bands detected with DGGE, which had at least a suggestive association (p<0.25) with asthma, were sequenced. Of the four targeted qPCRs, Clostridium cluster XI confirmed the protective association with asthma. The association was dose dependent (aOR 0.43 (95% CI 0.22–0.84) for the fourth versus first quartile, p for trend 0.009) and independent of other microbial markers. Few significant associations were observed for the three other qPCRs used.In this large international study, the level of Clostridium cluster XI was independently associated with a lower risk of prevalent asthma. Results suggest the importance of environmental bacteria also in adult asthma, but need to be confirmed in future studies.
Fuertes EI, Carsin A-E, Antó JM, et al., 2018, Leisure-time vigorous physical activity is associated with better lung function: the prospective ECRHS study, Thorax, Vol: 73, Pages: 376-384, ISSN: 1468-3296
Objective We assessed associations between physical activity and lung function, and its decline, in the prospective population-based European Community Respiratory Health Survey cohort.Methods FEV1 and FVC were measured in 3912 participants at 27–57 years and 39–67 years (mean time between examinations=11.1 years). Physical activity frequency and duration were assessed using questionnaires and used to identify active individuals (physical activity ≥2 times and ≥1 hour per week) at each examination. Adjusted mixed linear regression models assessed associations of regular physical activity with FEV1 and FVC.Results Physical activity frequency and duration increased over the study period. In adjusted models, active individuals at the first examination had higher FEV1 (43.6 mL (95% CI 12.0 to 75.1)) and FVC (53.9 mL (95% CI 17.8 to 89.9)) at both examinations than their non-active counterparts. These associations appeared restricted to current smokers. In the whole population, FEV1 and FVC were higher among those who changed from inactive to active during the follow-up (38.0 mL (95% CI 15.8 to 60.3) and 54.2 mL (95% CI 25.1 to 83.3), respectively) and who were consistently active, compared with those consistently non-active. No associations were found for lung function decline.Conclusion Leisure-time vigorous physical activity was associated with higher FEV1 and FVC over a 10-year period among current smokers, but not with FEV1 and FVC decline.
Demenais F, Margaritte-Jeannin P, Barnes KC, et al., 2017, Multiancestry association study identifies new asthma risk loci that colocalize with immune-cell enhancer marks, Nature Genetics, Vol: 50, Pages: 42-53, ISSN: 1061-4036
We examined common variation in asthma risk by conducting a meta-analysis of worldwide asthma genome-wide association studies (23,948 asthma cases, 118,538 controls) of individuals from ethnically diverse populations. We identified five new asthma loci, found two new associations at two known asthma loci, established asthma associations at two loci previously implicated in the comorbidity of asthma plus hay fever, and confirmed nine known loci. Investigation of pleiotropy showed large overlaps in genetic variants with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The enrichment in enhancer marks at asthma risk loci, especially in immune cells, suggested a major role of these loci in the regulation of immunologically related mechanisms.
Garcia Larsen V, Potts J, Omenaas E, et al., 2017, Dietary antioxidants and ten year lung function decline in adults from the ECRHS survey, European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 50, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 0903-1936
The relationship between lung function decline and dietary antioxidants over 10 years in adults from three European countries was investigated.In 2002, adults from three participating countries of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) answered a questionnaire and underwent spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)), which were repeated 10 years later. Dietary intake was estimated at baseline with food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Associations between annual lung function decline (mL) and diet (tertiles) were examined with multivariable analyses. Simes’ procedure was applied to control for multiple testing.A total of 680 individuals (baseline mean age 43.8±6.6 years) were included. A per-tertile increase in apple and banana intake was associated with a 3.59 mL·year−1 (95% CI 0.40, 7.68) and 3.69 mL·year−1 (95% CI 0.25, 7.14) slower decline in FEV1 and FVC, respectively. Tomato intake was also associated with a slower decline in FVC (4.5 mL·year−1; 95% CI 1.28, 8.02). Only the association with tomato intake remained statistically significant after the Simes’ procedure was performed. Subgroup analyses showed that apple, banana and tomato intake were all associated with a slower decline in FVC in ex-smokers.Intake of fruits and tomatoes might delay lung function decline in adults, particularly in ex-smokers.
Jarvis D, Newson R, Janson C, et al., 2017, Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms with ageing., Thorax, Vol: 73, Pages: 37-48, ISSN: 1468-3296
BACKGROUND: Change in the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in populations of ageing adults is likely to be influenced by smoking, asthma treatment and atopy. METHODS: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey collected information on prevalent asthma-like symptoms from representative samples of adults aged 20-44 years (29 centres in 13 European countries and Australia) at baseline and 10 and 20 years later (n=7844). Net changes in symptom prevalence were determined using generalised estimating equations (accounting for non-response through inverse probability weighting), followed by meta-analysis of centre level estimates. FINDINGS: Over 20 years the prevalence of 'wheeze' and 'wheeze in the absence of a cold' decreased (-2.4%, 95% CI -3.5 to -1.3%; -1.5%, 95% CI -2.4 to -0.6%, respectively) but the prevalence of asthma attacks, use of asthma medication and hay fever/nasal allergies increased (0.6%, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.11; 3.6%, 95% CI 3.0 to 4.2; 2.7%, 95% CI 1.7 to 3.7). Changes were similar in the first 10 years compared with the second 10 years, except for hay fever/nasal allergies (increase seen in the first 10 years only). Decreases in these wheeze-related symptoms were largely seen in the group who gave up smoking, and were seen in those who reported hay fever/nasal allergies at baseline. INTERPRETATION: European adults born between 1946 and 1970 have, over the last 20 years, experienced less wheeze, although they were more likely to report asthma attacks, use of asthma medication and hay fever. Decrease in wheeze is largely attributable to smoking cessation, rather than improved treatment of asthma. It may also be influenced by reductions in atopy with ageing.
Valkonen M, Täubel M, Pekkanen J, et al., 2017, Microbial characteristics in homes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults in the ECRHS cohort., Indoor Air, Vol: 28, Pages: 16-27, ISSN: 0905-6947
Microbial exposures in homes of asthmatic adults have been rarely investigated; specificities and implications for respiratory health are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate associations of microbial levels with asthma status, asthma symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and atopy. Mattress dust samples of 199 asthmatics and 198 control subjects from 7 European countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II study were analyzed for fungal and bacterial cell wall components and individual taxa. We observed trends for protective associations of higher levels of mostly bacterial markers. Increased levels of muramic acid, a cell wall component predominant in Gram-positive bacteria, tended to be inversely associated with asthma (OR's for different quartiles: II 0.71 [0.39-1.30], III 0.44 [0.23-0.82], and IV 0.60 [0.31-1.18] P for trend .07) and with asthma score (P for trend .06) and with atopy (P for trend .02). These associations were more pronounced in northern Europe. This study among adults across Europe supports a potential protective effect of Gram-positive bacteria in mattress dust and points out that this may be more pronounced in areas where microbial exposure levels are generally lower.
Bjornsdottir E, Janson C, Lindberg E, et al., 2017, Respiratory symptoms are more common among short sleepers independent of obesity, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, Vol: 4, ISSN: 2052-4439
Introduction Sleep length has been associated with obesity and various adverse health outcomes. The possible association of sleep length and respiratory symptoms has not been previously described. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sleep length and respiratory symptoms and whether such an association existed independent of obesity.Methods This is a multicentre, cross-sectional, population-based study performed in 23 centres in 10 different countries. Participants (n=5079, 52.3% males) were adults in the third follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III. The mean±SD age was 54.2±7.1 (age range 39–67 years). Information was collected on general and respiratory health and sleep characteristics.Results The mean reported nighttime sleep duration was 6.9±1.0 hours. Short sleepers (<6 hours per night) were n=387 (7.6%) and long sleepers (≥9 hours per night) were n=271 (4.3%). Short sleepers were significantly more likely to report all respiratory symptoms (wheezing, waking up with chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, phlegm and bronchitis) except asthma after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), centre, marital status, exercise and smoking. Excluding BMI from the model covariates did not affect the results. Short sleep was related to 11 out of 16 respiratory and nasal symptoms among subjects with BMI ≥30 and 9 out of 16 symptoms among subjects with BMI <30. Much fewer symptoms were related to long sleep, both for subjects with BMI <30 and ≥30.Conclusions Our results show that short sleep duration is associated with many common respiratory symptoms, and this relationship is independent of obesity.
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