Sara Nilsson

Web-based self-reported height, weight, and body mass index among Swedish adolescents: a validation study.

Background Web-collected height and weight are increasingly used in epidemiological studies; however, the validity has rarely been evaluated. Objective The aim of the study was to validate self-reported height, weight, and corresponding body mass index (BMI) among Swedish adolescents aged approximately 16 years. A secondary aim was to investigate possible prediction factors for validity of self-reported BMI. Methods The study included 1698 adolescents from the population-based cohort BAMSE. Height and weight were collected through a Web-based questionnaire and subsequently measured using standard procedures. Differences between reported and measured height, weight, and corresponding BMI were compared by t tests and agreement was evaluated by Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman plots. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to investigate whether lifestyle and demographic factors predicted validity of self-reported BMI. Results On average, weight was underestimated by 1.1 kg and height was overestimated by 0.5 cm, leading to an underestimation of BMI by 0.5 kg/m2. Correlation coefficients were .98 for height, .97 for weight, and .94 for BMI, and highly significant. Females underestimated weight to a higher extent than males and overweight and obese participants underestimated weight to a higher extent than normal-weight participants, which resulted in higher underestimation of BMI. Underweight participants, on the contrary, overestimated weight and correspondingly BMI. Overall, a high proportion of participants were classified into the correct BMI category; however, among overweight and obese participants, only 60.2% (139/231) and 46% (20/44) were correctly classified, respectively. In the multivariable prediction model, only gender and BMI status significantly predicted discrepancy between reported and measured BMI. Conclusions Web-collected BMI may be used as a valid, quick, and cost-effective alternative to measured BMI among Swedish adolescents. The accuracy of self-reported BMI declines with increasing BMI and self-reported BMI should not be used to estimate the prevalence of overweight or obesity.

Rationale and design of the multiethnic Pharmacogenomics in Childhood Asthma consortium

AIM International collaboration is needed to enable large-scale pharmacogenomics studies in childhood asthma. Here, we describe the design of the Pharmacogenomics in Childhood Asthma (PiCA) consortium. MATERIALS & METHODS Investigators of each study participating in PiCA provided data on the study characteristics by answering an online questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 21 studies, including 14,227 children/young persons (58% male), from 12 different countries are currently enrolled in the PiCA consortium. Fifty six percent of the patients are Caucasians. In total, 7619 were inhaled corticosteroid users. Among patients from 13 studies with available data on asthma exacerbations, a third reported exacerbations despite inhaled corticosteroid use. In the future pharmacogenomics studies within the consortium, the pharmacogenomics analyses will be performed separately in each center and the results will be meta-analyzed. CONCLUSION PiCA is a valuable platform to perform pharmacogenetics studies within a multiethnic pediatric asthma population.

Snapshot of cobalt, chromium and nickel exposure in dental technicians

It is not fully understood where and how people are exposed to sensitizing metals. Much can be learnt from studying occupational settings where metals are handled.

Does asthma affect school performance in adolescents? Results from the Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE

Asthma is common among schoolchildren and may influence quality of life and school attendance. However, it is unclear if asthma affects school performance. The aim of this study was to examine whether different phenotypes of asthma affect school performance during adolescence.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma at 8 years and subsequent allergic disease

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are hypothesized to modulate the risk of allergic disease. However, evidence from previous studies is inconclusive, and limited longitudinal data exist using circulating biomarkers of PUFA intake and metabolism. Objective: We aimed to investigate associations between n‐3 and n‐6 PUFAs at age 8 years and asthma, rhinitis, and aeroallergen sensitization at age 16 years. Methods: Proportions of n‐3 PUFAs (very long‐chain n‐3 [VLC n‐3; sum of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid] and &agr;‐linolenic acid) and n‐6 PUFAs (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid [AA]) in blood samples at age 8 years were measured for 940 children from the prospective Swedish birth cohort BAMSE (Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology). Allergic disease phenotypes were defined by using questionnaires and IgE measures at the ages of 8 and 16 years. Logistic regression was used to examine potential associations. Results: A higher proportion of total VLC n‐3 PUFAs in plasma at age 8 years was associated with a reduced risk of prevalent asthma, rhinitis, and aeroallergen sensitization at age 16 years and with incidence of asthma between 8 and 16 years (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.94). AA was associated with a reduced risk of asthma, aeroallergen sensitization, and allergic rhinitis. The findings were most evident for allergic phenotypes of asthma and rhinitis. Additionally, AA was associated with an increased probability of asthma and rhinitis remission between 8 and 16 years of age. Conclusion: Higher proportions of certain VLC n‐3 and very long‐chain n‐6 PUFAs in plasma phospholipids at age 8 years were associated with a reduced risk of allergic disease at age 16 years.

Relevance of low specific IgE levels to egg, milk and peanut in infancy

IgE sensitization is usually associated with allergy‐related diseases, but may also occur in asymptomatic individuals. The clinical importance of IgE antibody concentrations in the interval 0.1‐0.34 kU/L in early life in relation to allergy development is poorly evaluated.