title: Aspirin-intolerant asthma in the population: prevalence and important determinants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population-based studies on aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA) are very few, and no previous population study has investigated risk factors for the condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of AIA in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire on respiratory health was mailed to 30,000 randomly selected subjects aged 16-75 years in West Sweden, 29,218 could be traced and 18,087 (62%) responded. The questionnaire included questions on asthma, respiratory symptoms, aspirin-induced dyspnoea and possible determinants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AIA was 0.5%, 0.3% in men and 0.6% in women (P = 0.014). Sick leave, emergency visits due to asthma and all investigated lower respiratory symptoms were more common in AIA than in aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA). Obesity was a strong risk factor for AIA (BMI > 35: odds ratio (OR) 12.1; 95% CI 2.49-58.5), and there was a dose-response relationship between increasing body mass index (BMI) and risk of AIA. Obesity, airborne occupational exposure and visible mould at home were considerably stronger risk factors for AIA than for ATA. Current smoking was a risk factor for AIA (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.47-4.42), but not ATA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspirin-intolerant asthma identified in the general population was associated with a high burden of symptoms, uncontrolled disease and a high morbidity. Increasing BMI increased the risk of AIA in a dose-response manner. A number of risk factors, including obesity and current smoking, were considerably stronger for AIA than for ATA.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Eriksson
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ekerljung
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bossios
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bjerg
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Wennergren
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rönmark
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Torén
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lötvall
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Lundbäck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D055963:Asthma, Aspirin-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: aspirin-intolerant asthma; epidemiology; obesity; population survey; risk factors