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Socio-economic status is related to incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults

¹ The Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Studies, Dept of Medicine, Sunderby Central Hospital of Norrbotten, Luleå, ² Occupational Medicine, Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, and ³ Lung and Allergy Research, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

CORRESPONDENCE: E. Rönmark, Lung and Allergy Research, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden. Fax: 46 920230843. E-mail: eva.ronmark{at}telia.com

Keywords: Asthma, incidence, occupational epidemiology, respiratory symptoms

Received: September 14, 2005
Accepted March 8, 2006

The aim of the present study was to assess the association between socio-economic status and impaired respiratory health in a 10-yr follow-up of a population-based postal survey in Northern Sweden.

Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios in relation to socio-economic class, using age, sex, a family history of asthma, smoking habits, and occupational exposures to dust, gases and fumes as possible confounders.

The study comprised 2,341 males and 2,413 females. Cumulative incidences were generally lowest in professionals, including executives and civil servants at intermediate and higher levels, who were chosen as reference group. Manual workers in industry showed a significantly increased risk of developing asthma, recurrent wheeze, attacks of shortness of breath or a combination of the two, and chronic productive cough. Manual workers in service showed a similar pattern for attacks of shortness of breath, recurrent wheeze, or a combination of the two, and chronic productive cough. The corresponding population attributable risks were 10%.

Low socio-economic status was a risk factor for the development of asthma, symptoms common in asthma and chronic productive cough.

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