Comorbidities associated with adult asthma: a population-based matched cohort study in Finland
Abstract
Background Asthma is a common chronic disease characterised by variable respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, affecting roughly 4%–10% of the adult population. Adult asthma is associated with higher all-cause mortality compared to individuals without asthma. In this study, we investigate the comorbidities that may affect the management of asthma. Methods Total of 1648 adults with asthma and 3310 individuals without asthma aged 30–93 were matched with age, gender and area of residency, and followed from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2013. Baseline information was collected with questionnaires 1997 and follow-up register data from the national discharge registry Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Data included diagnoses from outpatient care and day surgery of specialised health care, and data from inpatient care of specialised and primary health care. We included all main diagnoses that had at minimum 200 events and number of diagnoses based on their common appearance with adult asthma. Results The mean follow-up time varied between 14.2 and 15.1 years, and age at the time of enrolment was 53.9 years for subjects without asthma and 54.4 years for patients with asthma. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 10 times more common among asthmatics. Risk of acute rhinosinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, atopic dermatitis and vocal cord dysfunction was fourfold and risk of pneumonia was 2.5 times and chronic rhinosinusitis was 1.8 times more common…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 3,310 participants or records.
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