News Release

Twofold increase in adult asthma in 20 years, irrespective of smoking

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Intergenerational 20 year trends in the prevalence of asthma and hay fever in adults: the Midspan family study surveys of parents and offspring

The level of asthma in adults has increased more than twofold in 20 years, irrespective of smoking, according to a unique study in this week's BMJ.

Researchers in Scotland compared levels of asthma, hay fever and other chest problems in married couples surveyed during the 1970s with levels in their offspring - surveyed at similar ages - 20 years later. The authors found that hay fever and asthma increased during the 20-year interval in both smokers and non-smokers. In those who had never smoked, hay fever increased from 6% to 20% and asthma increased from 3% to 8%. In those who had smoked, hay fever increased from 5% to 16% and asthma increased from 2% to 5%. During this period, smoking halved in both men and women.

Despite increased asthma, reports of frequent chest wheezing decreased over time. Besides the fall in smoking, these findings may be the result of improved asthma treatment, suggest the authors, as prescriptions of inhaled steroid medication for asthma increased more than sixfold between 1980 and 1990.

Improved awareness of asthma does not appear to be responsible for the trend in allergic asthma, conclude the authors, but greater awareness may account for trends in non-allergic asthma. They stress the importance of future research to establish which types of asthma are becoming more common amongst adults.

###

Contact:

Mark Upton, general practitioner and clinical epidemiologist, Thornaby and Barwick Medical Group, The Health Centre, Thornaby, Cleveland TS17 0BZ Email: marknupton@aol.com


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.