Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Role of Smoking in Allergy and Asthma: Lessons from the ECRHS

  • ASTHMA (WJ CALHOUN AND J BOUSQUET, SECTION EDITORS)
  • Published:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey is an international multicenter cohort study of asthma, allergy, and lung function that began in the early-1990s with recruitment of population-based samples of 20- to 44-year-old adults, mainly in Europe. The aims of the study are broad ranging but include assessment of the role of in utero exposure to tobacco smoke, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and active smoking on the incidence, prevalence, and prognosis of allergy and asthma. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses looking at these associations have been conducted, sometimes only using information collected in one country, and on other occasions using information collected in all the participating centers. This article summarizes the results from these various publications from this large epidemiologic study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

  1. Burney P, Luczynska C, Chinn S, Jarvis D. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Eur Respir J. 1994;7(5):954–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. European Community Respiratory Health Survey II Steering Committee (written by D. Jarvis et al). The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Eur Respir J. 2002;20:1071–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Janson C, Anto JM, Burney P, et al. The ECRHS: what are the main results so far? Eur Respir J. 2001;18(3):598–611.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Svanes C, Omenaas E, Jarvis D, Chinn S, Gulsvik A, Burney P. Parental smoking in childhood and adult obstructive lung disease: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.[see comment]. Thorax. 2004;59(4):295–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cook DG, Strachan DP. Parental smoking and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma in school age children. Thorax. 1997;52:1081–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cook DG, Strachan D, Carey IM. Parental smoking and spirometric indices in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1997;53:884–93.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Strachan DP, Cook DG. Parental smoking and allergic sensitisation in children. Thorax 1998;53:117–23.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Becklake MR, Kauffmann F. Gender differences in airway behaviour over the human life span. Thorax. 1999;54(12):1119–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Burrows B, Halonen M, Barbee RA, Lebowitz MD. The relationship of serum immunoglobulin E to cigarette smoking. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981;124:523–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Warren C, Holford-Strevens V, Wong C, Manfreda J. The relationship between smoking and total immunoglobulin E levels. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982;69:370–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zetterstrom O, Osterman K, Machado L, Johansson SG. Another smoking hazard:raised serum IgE concentration and increased risk of occupational allergy. BMJ. 1981;283:1215–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Calverley A, Rees D, Dowdeswell R, Linnet P, Kielkowski D. Platinum salt sensitivity in refinery workers:incidence and effects of smoking and exposure. Occup Env Med. 1995;52:661–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jarvis D, Luczynska C, Chinn S, et al. Change in prevalence of IgE sensitisation and mean total IgE by age and cohort. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;116:675–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jarvis D, Zock JP, Heinrich J, et al. Cat and dust mite allergen levels, specific IgG and IgG4, and respiratory symptoms in adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119(3):697–704.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Janson C. Changes in active and passive smoking in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Eur Respir J. 2006;27(3):517.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wieringa M, Weyler J, Van Bastelaer F, Nelen V, Van Sprundel M, Vermeire P. Higher asthma occurrence in an urban than a suburban area: role of house dust mite skin allergy. Eur Respir J. 1997;10:1460–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bjornsson E, Plaschke P, Norrman E, et al. Symptoms related to asthma and chronic bronchitis in three areas of Sweden. Eur Respir J. 1994;7(12):2146–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ludviksdottir D, Bjornsson E, Janson C, Boman G. Habitual coughing and its associations with asthma, anxiety, and gastroesophageal reflux. Chest. 1996;109(5):1262–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kogevinas M, Anto JM, Tobias A, et al. Respiratory symptoms, lung function and use of health services among unemployed young adults in Spain. Eur Respir J. 1998;11:1363–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. de Marco R, Locatelli F, Sunyer J, Burney P. Differences in incidence of reported asthma related to age in men and women. A retrospective analysis of the data of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;162:68–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Abramson M, Kutin J, Raven J, Lanigan A, Czarny D, Walters H. Risk factors for asthma among young adults in Melbourne. Australia Respirology. 1996;1:291–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Plaschke P, Janson C, Norrman E, Bjornsson E, Ellbjar S, Jarvholm B. Onset and remission of allergic rhinitis and asthma and the relationship with atopic sensitisation and smoking. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;162:920–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. de Marco R, Locatelli F, Cazzoletti L, Bugianio M, Carosso A, Marinoni A. Incidence of asthma and mortality in a cohort of young adults: 7-year prospective study. Respir Res. 2005;6:95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. •• Anto J, Sunyer J, Basagana X, et al. Risk factors of new onset asthma in adults; a population based international cohort study. Allergy. 2010;65:1021–30. This is a comprehensive assessment of risk factors associated with adult-onset asthma within the ECRHS using data from all centers.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Chinn S, Burney P, Sunyer J, Jarvis D, Luczynska C. Sensitisation to individual allergens and bronchial responsiveness in the ECRHS. Eur Respir J. 1999;14:876–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chinn S, Jarvis D, Luczynska C, Burney P. Individual allergens as risk factors for bronchial responsiveness in young adults. Thorax. 1998;53(8):662–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sunyer J, Anto JM, Kogevinas M, Soriano JB, Tobias A, Munoz A. Smoking and bronchial responsiveness in nonatopic and atopic young adults. Spanish Group of the European Study of Asthma. Thorax. 1997;52(3):235–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Chinn S, Jarvis D, Luczynska C, et al. An increase in bronchial responsiveness is associated with continuing or restarting smoking. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172:956–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Janson C, Chinn S, Jarvis D, Zock JP, Toren K, Burney P. Effect of environmental tobacco exposure (ETS) on respiratory symptoms, bronchial responsiveness, lung function and total serum IgE in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Lancet. 2001;358:2103–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Blanc PD, Ellbjar S, Janson C, et al. Asthma-related work disability in Sweden. The impact of workplace exposures. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;160(6):2028–33.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Blanc PD, Burney P, Janson C, Toren K. The prevalence and predictors of respiratory-related work limitation and occupational disability in an international study. Chest. 2003;124(3):1153–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cerveri I, Cazzoletti L, Corsico A, et al. The impact of smoking on asthma: an international population based cohort. Int Arch Allergy and Immunol. 2012;158:175–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lange P, Vestbo J, Schnohr P, Jensen G. A 15 year follow-up study of ventilatory function in adults with asthma. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:1194–200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. de Marco R, Marcon A, Jarvis D, et al. Prognostic factors of asthma severity: a 9-year international prospective cohort study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;117:1249–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. de Marco R, Marcon A, Jarvis D, et al. Inhaled steroids are associated with reduced lung function decline in subjects with asthma with elevated total IgE. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119:611–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Marcon A, Corsico A, Cazzoletti L, et al. Body mass index, weight gain, and other determinants of lung function decline in adult asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;123(5):1069–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Chinn S, Jarvis D, Melotti R, et al. Smoking cessation, lung function, and weight gain: a follow-up study. Lancet. 2005;365:1629–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Chalmers G, Macleod K, Little S, Thomson L, McSharry C, Thomson N. Influence of cigarette smoking on inhaled corticosteroid treatment in mild asthma. Thorax. 2002;57:226–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Janson C, Chinn S, Jarvis D, Burney P. Individual use of anti-asthmatic drugs in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Eur Respir J. 1998;12:557–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Janson C, de Marco R, Accordini S, et al. Changes in the use of anti-asthmatic medication in an international cohort. Eur Respir J. 2005;26:1047–55.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

Dr. Janson has received payment for giving lectures from GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Novartis.

Dr. Jarvis has received grant support from the European Union, Asthma UK, the Department of Health, and the Medical Research Council and has received payment for giving lectures from GlaxoSmithKline Chile.

Drs. Accordini and Svanes reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah Jarvis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Accordini, S., Janson, C., Svanes, C. et al. The Role of Smoking in Allergy and Asthma: Lessons from the ECRHS. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 12, 185–191 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0260-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0260-9

Keywords

Navigation