Browsing by Author "Haapsaari, Elina"

Respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD create a significant disease burden worldwide. Data used in this paper was collected in 2016 in FinEsS-Helsinki-study regarding respiratory diseases, their symptoms and risk factors. Later, the respondents were asked to submit a permission to collect personal socioeconomic data from several authorities as a part of Nordic EpiLung-study. The aim of this paper was to analyze if there are differences between non-responders and responders in different background variables, lung diseases or medication using the original FinEsS-data. Response rate in epidemiological surveys has declined during the last decades. Non-responder-studies offer valuable information regarding the impacts of this phenomenon on study results. Significant differences between non-responders and responders were found in lung diseases, medication and following background variables: age, gender, smoking, exercise, comorbidities and predisposing factors. Most non-responders were found among younger age-groups, smokers, electronic cigarette smokers, those with panic disorder or anxiety disorder and those being exposed to dust, gases and smoke in their working environment. Most responders were found among those receiving treatment/medication for dyspepsia or gastroesophageal reflux and the users of asthma medication. The results of this study can be used as a part of Epilung-study to assess the reliability of the effect of socioeconomic factors on respiratory health.