Differences in diagnostic patterns of obstructive airway disease between areas and sex in Sweden and Finland - the Nordic EpiLung study. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Axelsson, Malin; Ilmarinen, Pinja; Backman, Helena; Ekerljung, Linda; Hedman, Linnea; Langhammer, Arnulf; Lindberg, Anne; Lindqvist, Ari; Nwaru, Bright I.; Pallasaho, Paula; Sovijärvi, Anssi; Vähätalo, Iida; Kankaanranta, Hannu; Hisinger-Mölkänen, Hanna; Piirilä, Päivi; Rönmark, Eva
• Is Part Of: Journal of asthma. Volume 58:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1196
• Page End: 1207
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Asthma -- COPD -- chronic bronchitis -- epidemiology -- diagnostic practices -- obstructive lung disease -- respiratory symptoms -- sex differences; Asthma -- Periodicals; 616.238005
• DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1776727
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the current prevalence of physician-diagnosed obstructive airway diseases by respiratory symptoms and by sex in Sweden and Finland. Method: In 2016, a postal questionnaire was answered by 34, 072 randomly selected adults in four study areas: Västra Götaland and Norrbotten in Sweden, and Seinäjoki-Vaasa and Helsinki in Finland. Results: The prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in Norrbotten (13.2%), Seinäjoki-Vaasa (14.8%) and Helsinki (14.4%) than in Västra Götaland (10.7%), and physician-diagnosed asthma was highest in Norrbotten (13.0%) and least in Västra Götaland (10.1%). Chronic productive cough was most common in the Finnish areas (7.7–8.2% versus 6.3–6.7%) while the prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (CB) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) varied between 1.7 and 2.7% in the four areas. Among individuals with respiratory symptoms, the prevalence of asthma was most common in Norrbotten, while a diagnosis of COPD or CB was most common in Västra Götaland and Seinäjoki-Vaasa. More women than men with respiratory symptoms reported a diagnosis of asthma in Sweden and Seinäjoki-Vaasa but there were no sex differences in Helsinki. In Sweden, more women than men with symptoms of cough or phlegm reported a diagnosis of CB or COPD, while in Finland the opposite was found. Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and corresponding diagnoses varied between and within the countries. The proportion reporting a diagnosis of obstructive airway disease among individuals with respiratory symptoms varied, indicating differences in diagnostic patterns both between areas and by sex.