Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Feb 2022)

Risk Factors for the Absence of Diagnosis of Asthma Despite Disease Symptoms: Results from the Swedish GA2LEN Study

  • Kisiel MA,
  • Jacobsson M,
  • Järhult S,
  • Ekerljung L,
  • Alving K,
  • Middelveld R,
  • Franklin K,
  • Janson C

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 179 – 186

Abstract

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Marta A Kisiel,1,* Martin Jacobsson,2,* Susann Järhult,3 Linda Ekerljung,4 Kjell Alving,5 Roelinde Middelveld,6 Karl Franklin,7 Christer Janson2 1Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 2Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 3Department of Medical Sciences, Emergency Department, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 4Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Krefting Research Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; 5Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Paediatric Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; 6Centre for Allergy Research and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 7Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Marta A Kisiel, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 60, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden, Tel +46704145919, Email [email protected]: Asthma is a common chronic disease presenting with airway symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and attacks of breathlessness. Underdiagnosis of asthma is common and correlates to negative outcomes such as a lower quality of life and reduced work capacity.Purpose: This study aims to identify factors for not being diagnosed with asthma if presenting with asthma symptoms.Patients and Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 45,000 subjects (age 16– 74 years) in Sweden. Subjects who reported both wheeze and breathlessness and wheeze when not having a cold were defined as having asthma-related symptoms. Data on demographics, educational level, smoking, physical activity, comorbidities, symptoms and asthma were collected. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for not being diagnosed with asthma.Results: Of the 25,391 who responded to the survey, 6.2% reported asthma-related symptoms. Of these, 946 had been diagnosed with asthma previously, while 632 had not. Independent risk factors for not being diagnosed with asthma were higher age (OR (95% CI) (2.17 (1.39– 3.40))), male sex (1.46 (1.17– 1.81)), current smoking (2.92 (2.22– 3.84)), low level of education (1.43 (1.01– 2.01)), low physical activity (1.36 (1.06– 1.74)), and hypertension (1.50 (1.06– 2.12)).Conclusion: Men, smokers, older subjects, and those with low educational level or low physical activity are less likely to be diagnosed with asthma despite presenting asthma-related symptoms.Keywords: asthma symptoms, no diagnosis despite symptoms of asthma

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