title: [Prevalence of adult asthma and allergic rhinitis in Kamishihoro town, Hokkaido--association with smoking habit and obesity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of adult asthma and allergic rhinitis, and to analyze associations between smoking habit, obesity and disease in Kamishihoro town, Hokkaido.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Japanese edition of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) Questionnaire was completed by 3096 residents (men: 1520, women: 1576) who ranged in age from 18 to 81.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the respondents, 12.9% of the males and 9.8% of the females responded "Yes" to the questionnaire item, "Wheezing at any time in the last 12 months" (defined as having asthma) and 17.6% of the males and 23.0% of the females responded "Yes" to the question, "Do you have any nasal allergies including hay fever?" (defined as having allergic rhinitis). This prevalence tended to be higher among younger respondents. Smoking habit and obesity were significantly associated with wheezing over the last 12 months, but not with allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking habit and obesity are significantly associated with asthma in Kamishihoro town, located in a rural area of Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University. okaoru@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kaoruko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isada
authors.forename: Ayumu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takemasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akazawa
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hizawa
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires