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Review

Is asthma prevalence still increasing?

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References

  • Papers of special note have been highlighted as:
  • • of interest
  • •• of considerable interest
  • Woolcock AJ. The problem of asthma worldwide. Eur Respir Rev. 1991;1:361–368.
  • Sears MR. Epidemiological trends in bronchial asthma. In: Kalliner M, Barnes P, Persson C, editors. Asthma: its pathology and treatment. Lung biology in health & disease Vol. 49. New York (NY): Marcel Dekker Inc.; 1991. p. 1–49.
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• Exemplifies urban–rural difference in asthma prevalence in developing countries.

  • Devenny A, Wassall H, Ninan T, et al. Respiratory symptoms and atopy in children in Aberdeen: questionnaire studies of a defined school population repeated over 35 years. BMJ. 2004;329:489–490.

• Exemplify that increase in asthma prevalence may be leveling off in the UK.

  • Ng Man Kwong G, Proctor A, Billings C, et al. Increasing prevalence of asthma diagnosis and symptoms in children is confined to mild symptoms. Thorax. 2001;56(4):312–314.

• Exemplify that increase in asthma prevalence may be leveling off in the UK.

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• Exemplify that increase in asthma prevalence may be leveling off in the UK.

  • Braun-Fahrlander C, Gassner M, Grize L, et al. No further increase in asthma, hay fever and atopic sensitisation in adolescents living in Switzerland. Eur Respir J. 2004;23(3):407–413.

• Exemplify that increase in asthma prevalence may be leveling off in Switzerland.

  • Zöllner IK, Weiland SK, Piechotowski I, et al. No increase in the prevalence of asthma, allergies and atopic sensitization among children in Germany: 1992-2001. Thorax. 2005;60:545–548.

• Exemplify that increase in asthma prevalence may be leveling off in Germany.

  • Robertson CF, Roberts MF, Kappers JH. Asthma prevalence in Melbourne schoolchildren: have we reached the peak? Med J Aust. 2004;180(6):273–276.

• No further increase in asthma prevalence in Australian children.

  • Toelle BG, Ng K, Belousova E, et al. Prevalence of asthma and allergy in schoolchildren in Belmont, Australia: three cross sectional surveys over 20 years. BMJ. 2004;328:386.

• No further increase in asthma prevalence in Australian children.

•• Detailed review on changes in asthma prevalence worldwide. Focus mainly on children and teenagers. Net effect worldwide: still an increase.

•• Excellent review of asthma prevalence trends and risk factors for asthma.

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•• Summary of respiratory diseases including asthma in Europe including prevalence and burden of disease.

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•• Key-paper describing changes in prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases among children and teenagers worldwide

• Excellent review of asthma prevalence and risk factors

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• The ECRHS´ cohort follow-up survey. Increase in diagnosed asthma but not in symptoms.

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• Exemplifies difference in prevalence of diagnosed asthma between Eastern and Western Europe although similar prevalence of symptoms common in asthma.

  • Kainu A, Pallasaho P, Piirila P, et al. Increase in prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma in Helsinki during the Finnish asthma programme: improved recognition of asthma in primary care? A cross-sectional cohort study. Prim Care Respir J. 2013;22(1):64–71.

• Increase in prevalence of diagnosed asthma but not in symptoms common in asthma among adults in Helsinki, Finland.

  • Ekerljung L, Andersson A, Sundblad BM, et al. Has the increase in the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms reached a plateau in Stockholm, Sweden? Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010;14(6):764–771.
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• Increase in prevalence of diagnosed asthma but not in symptoms common in asthma among adults in northern Sweden.

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• Increase in prevalence of diagnosed asthma but not in symptoms common in asthma among adults in south-west of Sweden.

  • Bjerg A, Ekerljung L, Middelveld R, et al. Increased prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis but not of asthma between 1990 and 2008 in Swedish adults: comparisons of the ECRHS and GA(2)LEN surveys. PLoS One. 2011;6(2):e16082.
  • Wilson DH, Adams RJ, Tucker D, et al. Trends in asthma prevalence and population changes in South Australia, 1990-2003. Med J Aust. 2006;184:226–229.

• Since late 1990s, no further increase in prevalence of asthma in asthma among South Australian adults.

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•• Increase in prevalence of asthma and some increase in symptoms common in asthma according to three nationwide Italian studies.

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• Major increase in prevalence of asthma over four decades but less so regarding symptoms. However, no data about changes after the millennium shift

  • QRESEARCH and the Information Centre for health and social care. Primary care epidemiology of allergic disorders: analysis using QRESEARCH database 2001-2006 [Internet]. Final Report to the Information Centre and Department of Health. 2007 [cited 2015 Nov 16]. Available from: http://www.qresearch.org/Public_Documents/HSCIC%20allergies%20report%20from%20QRESEARCH%20.pdf
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• Exemplifies under-diagnosis of adult asthma in Eastern Europe.

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• Major increase in asthma prevalence of allergic sensitization may precede increase in asthma prevalence.

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