Respiratory Health In Northern Europe

The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) is a follow-up study of participants from seven Northern European centres who participated in European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) stage I. The target population for the RHINE study were all subjects (n=21,802) from Reykjavik in Iceland, Bergen in Norway, Umeå, Uppsala and Göteborg in Sweden, Aarhus in Denmark and Tartu in Estonia that participated in stage 1 of the ECRHS (response rate 83.7%). The eligible subjects were sent a postal questionnaire in 1999-2001. In total 16,191 (74.3%) subjects answered the questionnaire.This questionnaire includes questions on respiratory symptoms, asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis, smoking, indoor environment, occupation, early life exposure and sleep disorders.

Part of this population are part of the ECRHS II
The ECRHS II is a follow-up survey of subjects from 14 countries who participated in the clinical phase of ECRHS I (3,4). The study is funded by the European Commission, as well as other sources of funding, as part of their Quality of Life Programme.The participants answered a detailed structured interview about symptoms, exposure to known or suspected risk factors for asthma, occupation and health service utilisation. Blood was taken for measurement of specific IgE to house dust mite, grass, cat and Cladosporium and DNA extraction (not all centres). Spirometry and methacholine challenge was performed. Health related quality of life was assessed by self completed questionnaires: SF-36 and AQLQ. In a sub-sample home visits were made to measure exposure to house dust mites and cat allergens. Throughout the study outdoor exposure to PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 was measured in the centres participating in the study.

A follow up of the RHINE and ECRHS populations was conducted in 2010-2012: RHINE III and ECRHS III

Purpose:

1. To assess the incidence and remission rate of asthma and allergic rhinitis and to determine risk factors in a representative Nordic population sample.

2. To assess the influence of occupational and home related environmental exposure on the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis in Northern Europe.

3. To investigate the association between the menstrual cycle and asthmatic symptoms in women.

4. To assess the incidence and remission of sleep disturbances and determine risk factors including atopy and asthma. Show less..