The socio-economic status is related to the incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults

¹ The OLIN Studies, Dept of Medicine, Sunderby Central Hospital of Norrbotten, Luleå; and Occupational medicine, Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå
² Occupational medicine, Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå
³ The OLIN Studies, Dept of Medicine, Sunderby Central Hospital of Norrbotten, Luleå; and Lung and Allergy Research, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: eva.ronmark{at}telia.com.

	Abstract

To assess the association between socio-economic status and impaired respiratory health in a 10-year 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 2341 men and 2413 women. 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 had a significantly increased risk of developing asthma, OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.0-2.7), recurrent wheeze, attacks of shortness of breath, the combination of the two, OR 1.9 (95%CI 1.2-3.1), and of chronic productive cough, OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7). Manual workers in service showed a similar pattern for attacks of shortness of breath, recurrent wheeze, the combination of the two, OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.6), and of chronic productive cough, OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.3). Corresponding population attributable risks were approximately 10%.

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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Hegewald and R. O. Crapo Socioeconomic Status and Lung Function Chest, November 1, 2007; 132(5): 1608 - 1614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]