PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Helena Backman
AU  - Linnea Hedman
AU  - Sven-Arne Jansson
AU  - Anne Lindberg
AU  - Bo Lundbäck
AU  - Eva Rönmark
TI  - Up to 20% of respiratory symptoms in Sweden are attributable to smoking
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4214
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4214.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4214.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Background Smoking is a well known risk factor for respiratory symptoms, and changes in smoking habits may affect respiratory health in the society.Aim To estimate the population attributable risk (PAR) of smoking on respiratory symptoms and asthma among adults in 1996 and 2006.Methods In 1996, 7104 randomly selected subjects aged 20-69 in Northern Sweden was sent a postal questionnaire including questions about respiratory diseases, symptoms and smoking habits, and 85% responded. In 2006 a new sample of 6165 subjects in the same ages received the postal questionnaire, and 77% responded.Results The prevalence of smoking decreased significantly from 27% to 19% as did most respiratory symptoms. The decrease was most pronounced for bronchitis symptoms; sputum production decreased from 19.1% to 15.0%, and longstanding cough 12.4% to 10.8%. Also recurrent wheeze decreased, from 13.4 to12.1%, while a physician-diagnosed asthma increased significantly from 9.4% to 11.6%. All respiratory symptoms were strongly related to smoking. The PAR of smoking ranged from 10% to 14% for sputum and cough with no major changes between 1996 and 2006. PAR was highest for wheeze, 23% (1996) and 18% (2006), but was not related to asthma. The PAR tended to decrease for most symptoms.Conclusions The prevalence of smoking and respiratory symptoms decreased from 1996 to 2006. The proportion of respiratory symptoms in the population attributable to smoking was 10-20%. Smoking prevention and smoking cessation are important targets for the respiratory health in the society.