Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Mortality in Association With Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry and Restrictive Spirometric Pattern: Clinical Relevance of Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry and Restrictive Spirometric Pattern.

Background: Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) and restrictive spirometric pattern (RSP) are often considered interchangeable in identifying restrictive impairment in spirometry.

Research Question: Do PRISm and RSP have different individual associations with risk factors, morbidity, and mortality?

Study Design And Methods: In a cross-sectional and longitudinal study, including 26,091 Norwegian general population men (30 to 46 years of age), we explored the association of PRISm and RSP with smoking habits, BMI, education, respiratory symptoms, self-reported cardiopulmonary disease, and mortality after 26 years of follow-up. PRISm was defined as FEV/FVC ≥ lower limit of normal (LLN) and FEV < LLN, and RSP was defined as FEV/FVC ≥ LLN and FVC < LLN.

Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study.

Aim: Heritability of cough has not yet been studied. We aimed to evaluate if individuals with cough are more likely to have offspring who develop cough, and if these associations differ by type of cough (productive/nonproductive).

Methods: The RHINESSA Generation Study (Respiratory Health In Northern Europe, Spain and Australia) includes 7155 parents (initially aged 30-54) answering detailed questionnaires in 2000 and 2010, and 8176 offspring ≥20 years answering similar questionnaires in 2012-2019.

Pregnancy outcomes as related to in utero exposure to air pollution and greenness: The Life-GAP Project.

Background: Lower birth weight and preterm birth may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes later in life. We examined whether maternal exposure to air pollution and greenness during pregnancy is associated with offspring birth weight and preterm birth.

Methods: We analyzed data on 4286 singleton births from 2358 mothers from Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, a prospective questionnaire-based cohort study (1990-2010).

Associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness with incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northern Europe: The Life-GAP project.

Background: Prolonged exposure to air pollution has been linked to adverse respiratory health, yet the evidence concerning its association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is inconsistent. The evidence of a greenness effect on chronic respiratory diseases is limited.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM and PM), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O) and greenness (as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index - NDVI) and incidence of self-reported chronic bronchitis or COPD (CB/COPD).

Outcome-based Definition of the Lower Limit of Normal in Spirometry: A Study of 26,000 Young Adult Men.

The definition of the lower limit of normal (LLN) of spirometric variables is not well established. To investigate the relationship between spirometric abnormalities defined with different thresholds of the LLN and clinical outcomes and to explore the possibility of using different LLN thresholds according to the pretest probability of disease. We studied the associations between prebronchodilator spirometric abnormalities (forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV] < LLN, forced vital capacity [FVC] < LLN, airflow obstruction, spirometric restriction) defined with different thresholds of the LLN (10th, 5th, 2.

Gastroesophageal reflux and snoring are related to asthma and respiratory symptoms: Results from a Nordic longitudinal population survey.

Aim: To study if individuals with nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER) and habitual snoring are more likely to develop asthma and respiratory symptoms (i.e. wheeze, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness) than those without these conditions, and if these associations are additive.

Long-term exposure to low-level air pollution and greenness and mortality in Northern Europe. The Life-GAP project.

Background: Air pollution has been linked to mortality, but there are few studies examining the association with different exposure time windows spanning across several decades. The evidence for the effects of green space and mortality is contradictory.

Objective: We investigated all-cause mortality in relation to exposure to particulate matter (PM and PM), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O) and greenness (normalized difference vegetation index - NDVI) across different exposure time windows.

Reduced lung function and cause-specific mortality: A population-based study of Norwegian men followed for 26 years.

Background And Aim: Reduced lung function is associated with increased mortality, but it is unclear how different spirometric patterns are related to specific deaths. Aim of this study was to investigate these associations in a large general population cohort.

Methods: The study population consisted of 26,091 men aged 30-46 years from the Pneumoconiosis Survey of Western Norway conducted in 1988-1990 with follow-up on date and cause of death for 26 years.

Impact of long-term exposure to ambient ozone on lung function over a course of 20 years (The ECRHS study): a prospective cohort study in adults.

Background: While the adverse effects of short-term ambient ozone exposure on lung function are well-documented, the impact of long-term exposure remains poorly understood, especially in adults.

Methods: We aimed to investigate the association between long-term ozone exposure and lung function decline. The 3014 participants were drawn from 17 centers across eight countries, all of which were from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).

Fathers' preconception smoking and offspring DNA methylation.

Background: Experimental studies suggest that exposures may impact respiratory health across generations via epigenetic changes transmitted specifically through male germ cells. Studies in humans are, however, limited. We aim to identify epigenetic marks in offspring associated with father's preconception smoking.

Greenness exposure: beneficial but multidimensional.

Many studies have shown that greenness has beneficial health effects, particularly on psychological and cardiovascular outcomes. In this narrative review, we provide a synthesis of knowledge regarding greenness exposure and respiratory health. The following outcomes were reviewed: respiratory mortality, lung cancer mortality, lung cancer incidence, respiratory hospitalisations, lung function, COPD, and asthma.

Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and asthma in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review protocol.

Background: Several epidemiological studies have examined the risk of asthma and respiratory diseases in association with long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution. However, little is known regarding the adverse effects of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution on the development of these outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our study aims to investigate the association between long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and asthma and respiratory diseases in LMICs through a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Oral bacterial composition associated with lung function and lung inflammation in a community-based Norwegian population.

Background: The oral cavity is the gateway to the bacteria community in the lung. Disruption of the symbiotic balance of the oral microbiota has been associated with respiratory diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between oral bacteria and respiratory outcomes in the general population.

Traffic noise in the bedroom in association with markers of obesity: a cross-sectional study and mediation analysis of the respiratory health in Northern Europe cohort.

Background: Previous research suggests an association between road traffic noise and obesity, but current evidence is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the association between nocturnal noise exposure and markers of obesity and to assess whether sleep disturbance might be a mediator in this association.

Methods: We applied data from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) cohort.

Maternal and paternal tuberculosis is associated with increased asthma and respiratory symptoms in their offspring: a study from Northern Europe.

Background: Given the profound impact of tuberculosis (TB) on immunity and given murine studies suggesting that infections may influence immunity across generations, we hypothesize that parental TB might impact health and disease in future offspring.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of maternal and paternal TB on offspring asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Methods: We included data from the third follow-up of the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe study (RHINE).

Association between lipid-A-producing oral bacteria of different potency and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in a Norwegian population-based adult cohort.

Background: Lipid A is the primary immunostimulatory part of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. The inflammatory response of LPS varies and depends upon the number of acyl chains and phosphate groups in lipid A which is specific for a bacterial species or strain. Traditional LPS quantification assays cannot distinguish between the acylation degree of lipid A molecules, and therefore little is known about how bacteria with different inflammation-inducing potencies affect fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F).

Previous tuberculosis infection associated with increased frequency of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic-Baltic multicentre population study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) infection induces profound local and systemic, immunological and inflammatory changes that could influence the development of other respiratory diseases; however, the association between TB and asthma is only partly understood. Our objective was to study the association of TB with asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic-Baltic population-based study.

Methods: We included data from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study, in which information on general characteristics, TB infection, asthma and asthma-like symptoms were collected using standardised postal questionnaires.

Association between abdominal and general obesity and respiratory symptoms, asthma and COPD. Results from the RHINE study.

Introduction: Previous studies on the association between abdominal and general obesity and respiratory disease have provided conflicting results.

Aims And Objectives: We aimed to explore the associations of abdominal obesity with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease independently from general obesity in women and men.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III questionnaire (n = 12 290) conducted in 2010-2012.

Period and cohort effects: consequences on spirometric lung function in Norway during the 20th century.

Background And Aim: Several factors can influence measured lung function over time. The aim of this study was to investigate period and cohort effects on spirometric measures in a large general population sample in Norway during the 20th century, using Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI-2012) equations as a reference.

Methods: 36 466 subjects (born 1894-1969) from four cross-sectional surveys conducted between 1965 and 1999 were included, with harmonised data on smoking habits, respiratory symptoms, lung diseases, education and spirometry.

Clinical Remission of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis - in a Longitudinal Population Study.

Background: Although asthma and allergic rhinitis are chronic diseases, some patients experience periods of remission. Information on prognostic factors associated with the remission of asthma and allergic rhinitis is valuable in resource prioritization. This study investigated factors associated with the clinical remission of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in association with home environment - The RHINE study.

We studied home environment exposures in relation to asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis among offspring of participants (parents) in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study (age ≤ 30 y). Totally 17,881 offspring from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia were included. Home environment exposures, including dampness and mold, type of dwelling, construction year and indoor painting were registered through a questionnaire answered by parents in the first follow up (RHINE II).

Long-term air pollution exposure, greenspace and health-related quality of life in the ECRHS study.

Background: Associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenspace with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are poorly studied and few studies have accounted for asthma-rhinitis status.

Objective: To assess the associations of air pollution and greenspace with HRQOL and whether asthma and/or rhinitis modify these associations.

Methods: The study was based on the participants in the second (2000-2002, n = 6542) and third (2011-2013, n = 3686) waves of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) including 19 centres.

The effect of farming environment on asthma; time dependent or universal?

The increasing prevalence of asthma is linked to westernization and urbanization. Farm environments have been associated with a lower risk of asthma development. However, this may not be universal, as the association differs across birth cohorts and farming methods.