Respiratory symptoms/diseases prevalence is still increasing: a 25-yr population study

• Published in: Respiratory medicine Vol. 110; pp. 58 - 65
• Main Authors: Maio, Sara, Baldacci, Sandra, Carrozzi, Laura, Pistelli, Francesco, Angino, Anna, Simoni, Marzia, Sarno, Giuseppe, Cerrai, Sonia, Martini, Franca, Fresta, Martina, Silvi, Patrizia, Di Pede, Francesco, Guerriero, Massimo, Viegi, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Airway management; Asthma; Asthma - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; General population; Health Surveys; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Population; Prevalence; Prevalence trends; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Rhinitis, Allergic - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Spirometry; Studies; Suburban areas; Values; Young Adult; General population; Prevalence trends; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.11.006

Few epidemiological surveys on general population samples estimated changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms/diseases over a long time interval; our study aims to quantify the temporal changes in the prevalence rates of asthma, allergic rhinitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) after 25 years from baseline. A general population sample participated in 3 cross-sectional surveys carried out in Central Italy (Pisa) in 1985–88 (n = 3865), 1991–93 (n = 2841), 2009–11 (n = 1620). 2276 (47%) subjects participated in at least 1 survey, 1723 (35.5%) in at least 2 surveys and 849 (17.5%) in all the 3 surveys. All subjects filled in a standardized questionnaire about health status and risk factors; a sub-sample performed spirometry. Chi-square test was used to compare adjusted prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms/diseases and descriptive characteristics among the surveys. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the association between respiratory symptoms/diseases and risk factors. There was an increasing trend in prevalence rates of all respiratory symptoms/diseases throughout the surveys: current asthma attacks (1st–3rd survey prevalence: 3.4–7.2%), allergic rhinitis (16.2–37.4%), usual phlegm (8.7–19.5%) and COPD (2.1–6.8%) more than doubled. The GEE model confirmed these increasing trends, indicating higher risk of having respiratory symptoms/diseases in the second and third surveys. While asthma and allergic rhinitis increasing trends were confirmed, with respect to other international studies, also a COPD increasing prevalence rates was shown. •Few studies assessed the changes in prevalence rates in the general population.•New information on the entire population have been added, in particular for COPD and AO.•Respiratory symptoms/diseases are still on the increase.•Current asthma attacks, allergic rhinitis, usual phlegm and COPD almost doubled.