Risk Factors for the Absence of Diagnosis of Asthma Despite Disease Symptoms: Results from the Swedish GA2LEN Study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flow chart showing how the study groups were selected.

Table 1 Characteristics of Patients with Asthma-Related Symptoms with or without Asthma Diagnosis (%)

	Diagnosis (n=946)	No Diagnosis (n=632)	P
Male	38.3	45.9	0.003
Age groups (years)
15–24	18.2	12.0	<0.001
25–34	26.3	17.1
35–44	20.7	19.4
45–54	14.8	20.2
55–64	12.1	19.2
65–75	8.0	12.2
Smoking status
Never	60.5	43.1	<0.0001
Former	25.8	26.0
Current	13.7	30.9
Educational level
Elementary	11.0	21.1	<0.0001
High school	31.5	34.1
University	57.5	44.8
BMI
<20	7.1	5.4	0.149
20–24.9	47.3	43.5
25–29.9	30.2	33.2
>30	15.4	17.9
Physical activity level
Low	23.9	34.5	<0.0001
Medium	54.4	47.3
High	21.8	18.2
Night symptoms
Nocturnal chest tightness	48.1	41.1	0.007
Nocturnal breathlessness	23.3	22.0	0.55
Nocturnal coughing	49.2	48.3	0.75
Comorbidity
Allergic rhinitis	70.2	43.9	<0.001
Chronic rhinosinusitis	3.5	4.1	0.51
Hypertension	10.4	19.8	<0.001
Diabetes	2.6	3.4	0.43
Symptoms disturbing sleeping
Snoring	22.0	28.3	0.005
Difficulties initiating sleep	22.3	29.9	0.001
Difficulties maintaining sleep	35.5	40.8	0.035
Excessive daytime sleepiness	44.0	50.9	0.007
Early morning awakenings	21.0	28.4	0.001

Note: Chi2-tests and unpaired t-tests were used in the bivariable analyses.

Table 2 The Correlation of Not Having an Asthma Diagnosis in Patients with Asthma-Related Symptoms Was Calculated as Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) and Adjusted for Age, Gender, Smoking History, BMI, and Study Centre

	Adjusted OR (95% CI)	P
Male	1.46 (1.17–1.81)	0.001
Age (years)
15–24	1	–
25–34	0.89 (0.62–1.29)	0.55
35–44	1.24 (0.86–1.79)	0.26
45–54	1.73 (1.18–2.54)	0.005
55–64	2.13 (1.43–3.18)	<0.0001
65–75	2.17 (1.39–3.40)	0.001
Smoking status
Never	1	–
Former	1.08 (0.82–1.4)	0.59
Current	2.92 (2.22–3.84)	<0.0001
Educational level
Elementary	1.43 (1.01–2.01)	0.04
High school	1.08 (0.84–1.38)	0.54
University	1	–
BMI
<20	0.9 (0.57–1.45)	0.68
20–24.9	1	–
25–29.9	0.99 (0.77–1.28)	0.93
>30	1.06 (0.76–1.45)	0.72
Level of physical activity
Low	1.36 (1.06–1.74)	0.016
Normal	1	–
High	1.04 (0.78–1.38)	0.81
Comorbidity
Allergic rhinitis	0.37 (0.30–0.47)	<0.0001
Chronic rhinosinusitis	0.96 (0.56–1.67)	0.90
Hypertension	1.50 (1.06–2.12)	0.02
Diabetes	0.89 (0.46–1.71)	0.72
Night symptoms
Nocturnal chest tightness	0.67 (0.54–0.83)	<0.0001
Nocturnal breathlessness	0.77 (0.59–0.996)	0.047
Nocturnal coughing	0.86 (0.69–1.07)	0.17
Symptoms disturbing sleeping
Snoring	1.01 (0.78–1.31)	0.91
Difficulties initiating sleep	1.33 (1.04–1.71)	0.03
Difficulties maintaining sleep	1.02 (0.82–1.28)	0.84
Excessive daytime sleepiness	1.36 (1.09–1.69)	0.01
Early morning awakenings	1.20 (0.93–1.55)	0.16