Peter Montnemery

Traffic-related air pollution associated with prevalence of asthma and COPD/chronic bronchitis. A cross-sectional study in Southern Sweden

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that air pollution from traffic has adverse long-term effects on chronic respiratory disease in children, but there are few studies and more inconclusive results in adults. We examined associations between residential traffic and asthma and COPD in adults in southern Sweden. A postal questionnaire in 2000 (n = 9319, 18–77 years) provided disease status, and self-reported exposure to traffic. A Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to link geocoded residential addresses to a Swedish road database and an emission database for NOx.ResultsLiving within 100 m of a road with >10 cars/minute (compared with having no heavy road within this distance) was associated with prevalence of asthma diagnosis (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.04–1.89), and COPD diagnosis (OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.11–2.4), as well as asthma and chronic bronchitis symptoms. Self-reported traffic exposure was associated with asthma diagnosis and COPD diagnosis, and with asthma symptoms. Annual average NOx was associated with COPD diagnosis and symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis.ConclusionLiving close to traffic was associated with prevalence of asthma diagnosis, COPD diagnosis, and symptoms of asthma and bronchitis. This indicates that traffic-related air pollution has both long-term and short-term effects on chronic respiratory disease in adults, even in a region with overall low levels of air pollution.

Prevalence of hand eczema in an adult Swedish population and the relationship to risk occupation and smoking

Using a postal questionnaire the prevalence of hand eczema was determined in a general population of 11,798 individuals aged 20-77 years who were randomly drawn from the population records. The response rate was 78.1%. One-year prevalence of hand eczema among women varied between 1.9% and 10.8%, with the highest figure among those aged 30-39 years. The corresponding figures for men were 2.3% and 5.6%, with the highest figure among those aged 20-29 years. Lifetime prevalence varied between 5.7% and 16.7% among women and between 5.2% and 9.5% among men. Using multiple logistic regression analysis female sex (OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.47-2.47) and smoking (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.75) were independent risk factors for reporting 1-year prevalence of hand eczema, whereas age (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.97-0.99) was inversely related to the 1-year prevalence of hand eczema. Aggregated risk occupation or categorized occupation such as medical and nursing work, production or service were not significantly associated with 1-year prevalence of hand eczema.

Traffic exposure associated with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis in adults. A cross-sectional study in southern Sweden

BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence that traffic-related air pollution is a risk factor for allergic conditions. Few studies have investigated this in adults. In adults, a high proportion of asthma, rhinitis and eczema is triggered by non-allergic factors. We investigated traffic as a risk factor for allergic versus non-allergic asthma and rhinitis, and eczema, in adults.A questionnaire from 2000 (n = 9319, 18–77 years) provided individual data about disease outcome and self-reported traffic exposure. Additional exposure assessments were obtained using Geographical Informations Systems (GIS). Residential addresses were linked to the national Swedish Road Database and to a pollutant database with modelled annual means of NOx (Nitrogen Oxids).ResultsLiving within 100 m from a road with a traffic intensity of >10 cars/min (24 hour mean) was associated with prevalence of current asthma reported to be triggered by allergic factors (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.23–2.72) and with allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = (1.05–1.61). No relation was seen with asthma or rhinitis triggered by other factors. Living within 100 m of a road with >10 cars/min was also associated with hand-eczema during the last 12 months (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.19–2.23), but not with allergic eczema or diagnosed hand-eczema. Consistent results were seen using self-reported traffic, but the associations with NOx were less consistent.ConclusionExposure to traffic was associated with a higher prevalence of allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, but not with asthma or rhinitis triggered by non-allergic factors. This difference was suggested by the overall pattern, but only clear using GIS-measured traffic intensity as a proxy for traffic exposure. An association was also found with hand-eczema during the last 12 months. We suggest that asthma and rhinitis should not be treated as homogenous groups when estimating effects from traffic in adults.

Incidence and remission of self-reported allergic rhinitis symptoms in adults.

Background:  A few studies have examined the incidence and remission of allergic rhinitis (AR) in the same general population.

Prevalence of self-reported eczema in relation to living environment, socio-economic status and respiratory symptoms assessed in a questionnaire study

BackgroundPotential links between eczema and obstructive pulmonary diseases have been postulated. Previously we have reported the prevalence of upper and lower respiratory diseases and the relation to environmental and socio-economic factors in a randomly selected adult population in southern Sweden using a postal questionnaire.In the present study we wanted to analyse the prevalence of eczema and its relation to socio-economic status, heredity factors and environmental factors in an adult population.MethodsSelf-reported eczema, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, asthma and Chronic Bronchitis Emphysema (CBE) were examined in 12,071 adults, aged 20–59 years, living in southern Sweden by using a postal questionnaire. There were comparable numbers of males and females in all age groups.Multiple logistic regression analysis (forward conditional) was applied to estimate the association between the proposed risk factors (heredity, self-reported asthma and CBE, nasal symptoms, socio-economic group, environmental factors, age, gender and smoking habits) and self-reported eczema.ResultsThe response rate was 70.1%. In all, 1240 subjects (14.6%) stated that they had eczema. In all age cohorts self-reported eczema was more frequently reported by women than by men (p < 0.05). The prevalence of self-reported eczema among the economically active population varied from 17.1% to 8.2% with the highest rates among assistant non-manual employees. However, when controlling for age, gender and risk occupation there was no association between low social position and eczema. Living close to heavy traffic (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.25–1.67) and living seaside (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.35) but not urban/suburban living was associated with eczema. Heredity of eczema (OR = 5.77, 95% CI 5.02–6.64), self reported allergic rhinitis (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 2.00–2.68), self reported asthma (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.56–2.51) and self reported CBE (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.08–1.87) were all associated with eczema.ConclusionsIn this epidemiological study we see that self-reported eczema is a common disease in an adult population especially among women. Eczema seems to be linked to environment factors, obstructive pulmonary diseases and rhinitis.

Increased serum levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: The reason that only a minority of smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still largely unknown. Glycosylation defects are involved in the pathological mechanisms in cystic fibrosis (CF), where chronic progressive obstructive lung disease dominates the clinical picture. Whether defects of protein glycosylation occur in COPD has not previously been examined. Increase in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum seems to function as an indicator of general defects of N-glycosylation. Recently, one study observed high serum CDT concentrations in CF patients. We examined whether subjects with COPD also have increased serum CDT levels. Method and results: A total of 131 randomly selected individuals, 45-64 years of age, underwent a medical examination, spirometry and blood tests. Serum CDT was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. In subjects diagnosed as having COPD (n = 15), multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between the diagnosis of COPD and CDT, even after all efforts were made to take the influence of age and smoking into account (odds ratio 3.16, 95% CI 1.11-8.95). Also, in subjects with COPD there was an inverse partial correlation between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and serum CDT (r =- 0.81, p = 0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that protein glycosylation defects occur in COPD and, in addition, might be involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. It seems that further investigation of the protein glycosylation in COPD is warranted.OBJECTIVE The reason that only a minority of smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still largely unknown. Glycosylation defects are involved in the pathological mechanisms in cystic fibrosis (CF), where chronic progressive obstructive lung disease dominates the clinical picture. Whether defects of protein glycosylation occur in COPD has not previously been examined. Increase in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum seems to function as an indicator of general defects of N-glycosylation. Recently, one study observed high serum CDT concentrations in CF patients. We examined whether subjects with COPD also have increased serum CDT levels. METHOD AND RESULTS A total of 131 randomly selected individuals, 45-64 years of age, underwent a medical examination, spirometry and blood tests. Serum CDT was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. In subjects diagnosed as having COPD (n = 15), multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between the diagnosis of COPD and CDT, even after all efforts were made to take the influence of age and smoking into account (odds ratio 3.16, 95% CI 1.11-8.95). Also, in subjects with COPD there was an inverse partial correlation between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and serum CDT (r = -0.81, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION These results suggest that protein glycosylation defects occur in COPD and, in addition, might be involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. It seems that further investigation of the protein glycosylation in COPD is warranted.

Specific nasal symptoms and symptom-provoking factors may predict increased risk of developing COPD.

In a 1992 questionnaire study, we found that certain nasal symptoms and symptom‐provoking factors were associated with prevalence of self‐reported chronic bronchitis/emphysema (CBE). In this follow‐up study, we examined whether any nasal features could predict an increased incidence of self‐reported physician’s diagnosis of CBE/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2000, a survey was performed similar to the one in 1992. Of a paired follow‐up group of 4933 participants aged 28–67 years, 4280 (86·8%) returned the questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) for cumulative incidence (between 1992 and 2000) of self‐reported physician‐diagnosed CBE/COPD and asthma, respectively, were calculated by logistic regression with adjustment for age, gender and smoking habits. Reports of thick, yellow nasal discharge and nasal blockage in 1992 predicted incidence of CBE/COPD: OR 2·3 (1·2–4·2) and 1·8 (1·1–2·8) respectively. Moreover, nasal symptoms provoked by exposure to damp/cold air and tobacco smoke predicted CBE/COPD: OR 3·4 (1·9–6·0) and 2·5 (1·4–4·2). Nasal itching and nasal symptoms provoked by exposure to grass pollen and furred animals predicted incidence of asthma. These results suggest that certain nasal symptoms and nasal symptom‐provoking exposures, different from those commonly associated with asthma, may predict increased risk of developing CBE/COPD. This supports the possibility of nasal co‐morbidity in COPD.

Detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary health care: role of spirometry and respiratory symptoms

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of spirometry and respiratory symptoms in the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary health care. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING A primary health centre in Landskrona, southern Sweden. SUBJECTS 164 subjects who in 1992 had answered a postal questionnaire concerning obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory symptoms. They were aged 45-64 years, with a mean of 55 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In 1997, the subjects were invited to perform a spirometry and a medical examination and to answer the same questionnaire as in 1992. Subjects with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 85% of the predicted normal value performed reversibility tests. RESULTS 131 subjects participated in the examinations. 15 subjects (11.5%) were diagnosed as having COPD. Only three of them had been previously diagnosed as having a respiratory disease. Many commonly occurring respiratory symptoms were associated with a reduction in FEV1. CONCLUSIONS Spirometry examinations in primary health care improve the probability of detecting COPD. A spirometry examination should be considered for patients with respiratory symptoms. It should also be considered for middle-aged smokers, even if they are symptom-free.

Nasal neutrophil activity and mucinous secretory responsiveness in COPD

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently report nasal symptoms. In the present study, we have examined whether or not COPD is associated with any nasal inflammation. Plasma exudation evoked by histamine challenges has been employed to improve the recovery of inflammatory indices in nasal lavage fluids. In 23 COPD‐patients and 26 healthy subjects, all without history or signs of allergic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, or chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal saline‐lavages were performed with and without histamine. α2‐Macroglobulin, fucose, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined as indices of plasma exudation, mucinous secretion, eosinophil activity and neutrophil activity, respectively. The difference in MPO‐levels between the histamine and the saline lavage was greater in COPD patients compared with healthy subjects (P<0·05). Also, COPD patients reporting nasal symptoms presented an increase in MPO at histamine challenge (P<0·05, cf. saline) and greater differences in MPO and fucose, respectively, between the histamine and the saline lavage (P<0·05, cf. patients without symptoms). We conclude that COPD is not associated with any marked nasal inflammation. However, our observation on increased MPO‐levels at histamine challenge suggests some degree of increased neutrophil activity in this condition. Furthermore, when associated with nasal symptoms, COPD may be associated with an increased nasal secretory responsiveness.

Familial related risk-factors in the development of chronic bronchitis/emphysema as compared to asthma assessed in a postal survey

There is a lack of knowledge to which extent heredity or familial risk factors are involved in the development of chronic bronchitis/emphysema (CBE). Smoking is regarded as the most important risk factor, but only about 15% of smokers develop airway obstruction. We evaluated the importance of familial risk factors compared to smoking and ex-smoking using an epidemiological approach. In 1992, a postal questionnaire was distributed to a study sample. In all, 43 questions were asked, in a previously evaluated questionnaire, regarding respiratory symptoms, self-reported lung diseases, smoking habits and familial occurrence of chronic bronchitis and asthma. The questionnaire was sent to 12,073 adults living in the southernmost part of Sweden. The age range was 20–59 years with an equal gender distribution. The study sample was drawn from the population records. The questionnaire was answered by 8469 subjects (70.1%), of whom 392 subjects (4.6%) stated that they had or had had CBE and 469 subjects (5.5%) stated that they had or had had asthma. In a model with logistic regression using the five explanatory variables gender, age, familial occurrence for asthma, familial occurrence for CBE and current or ex-smoking the most important risk factors for CBE were familial occurrence for chronic bronchitis [Odds ratios (OR): 5.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.09–6.60, p = 0.000] and current or ex-smoking (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.41–2.14, p = 0.000). The most important risk factors for asthma were familial occurrence for asthma (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 3.06–4.51, p = 0.000) and current or ex-smoking (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.09–1.61, p = 0.004). We have found that familial occurrence for CBE in first degree relatives together with smoking is a stronger risk factor for the development of CBE than is smoking.