Asthma/COPD

What are asthma and COPD?

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract that is associated with a narrowing of the airways and increased airway irritability. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic narrowing of the airways that interferes with breathing. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is a chronic inflammation of the mucosa due to prolonged exposure to certain irritants. Emphysema results in a loss of elasticity in the lungs and the loss of lung tissue. COPD and asthma are obstructive lung diseases.

 

What are the complaints associated with asthma and COPD?

The symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, wheezing and coughing (especially at night and in the morning). In children, the main symptoms are wheezing and coughing, and fullness and wheezing in children under the age of one year. The symptoms are seen in episodes that can last for longer or shorter periods of time. Episodes and periods with symptoms alternate with symptom-free periods. COPD manifests itself as shortness of breath, coughing and/or coughing up mucus. 538

 

How common are asthma and COPD in the general population?

The one-year prevalence in the general population is 3.2% for asthma and 2.0% for COPD.
Asthma usually begins in early childhood, but it can also begin after the age of 50. The incidence of asthma in general practice is approximately 6 per 1000 adults per year and it declines with age. The prevalence rate in general practice is 35 per 1000, declining from between 35 and 40 per 1000 in adolescents to 26 per 1000 in people aged over seventy-five. In general practice, asthma is 1.5 times more common in adult women than in men. 258

 

How common are asthma and COPD in people with intellectual disabilities?

A Dutch questionnaire study answered by the parents of all 2271 adolescents with intellectual disabilities in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe found that the one-year prevalence for asthma was 9.9%. 259
The European POMONA questionnaire survey looked at a random sample of 1269 adults with intellectual disabilities and found that 6.3% had asthma. 260

The Dutch GOUD study of 1050 people aged over 50 with intellectual disabilities found that 13.6% had asthma/COPD.  539

An English study of 1097 people with intellectual disabilities found that 12% had asthma, twice as many as in the general population 261 . This study showed that people with asthma smoked more often or were more often overweight than people without asthma; smoking and/or obesity are associated with an increased risk of a worse course of the disease.

Other studies show that asthma in children 262  and adults 263  with intellectual disabilities is more often a cause of death than in people without intellectual disabilities.

Asthma is more common in children with Down syndrome than in children with intellectual disabilities but no Down syndrome. 264

Furthermore, it is important to provide people with intellectual disabilities with proper instructions, to practice and to check whether inhalation medication is being used properly. 540   541

 

3.20% General population (asthma)
 
 
6% to 13.6% People with intellectual disabilities (asthma)

 

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Smeele I, Barnhoorn MJM, Broekhuizen BDL, Chavannes NH, In ’t Veen JCCM, Van der Molen T, Muris JW, Van Schayck O, Schermer TRJ, Snoeck-Stroband JB, Geijer RMM, Tuut MK. NHG-Werkgroep Astma bij volwassenen en COPD. NHG-Standaard Astma bij volwassenen (derde herziening). NHG 2015

Smeele I, Barnhoorn MJM, Broekhuizen BDL, Chavannes NH, In ’t Veen JCCM, Van der Molen T, Muris JW, Van Schayck O, Schermer TRJ, Snoeck-Stroband JB, Geijer RMM, Tuut MK. NHG-Werkgroep Astma bij volwassenen en COPD. NHG-Standaard Astma bij volwassenen (derde herziening). NHG 2015

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Boezen HM, Postma DS, Smit HA, Eysink PED. COPD. In: Volksgezondheid Toekomst Verkenning, Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid. Bilthoven: RIVM, <http://www.nationaalkompas.nl> Gezondheid en ziekte\ Ziekten en aandoeningen\ Ademhalingswegen\ COPD, 10 maart 2006. Medio 2016 beschikbaar op www.volksgezondheidenzorg.info

Boezen HM, Postma DS, Smit HA, Eysink PED. COPD. In: Volksgezondheid Toekomst Verkenning, Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid. Bilthoven: RIVM, <http://www.nationaalkompas.nl> Gezondheid en ziekte\ Ziekten en aandoeningen\ Ademhalingswegen\ COPD, 10 maart 2006. Medio 2016 beschikbaar op www.volksgezondheidenzorg.info

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Oeseburg B, Jansen DE, Dijkstra GJ, Groothoff JW, Reijneveld SA. Prevalence of chronic diseases in adolescents with intellectual disability. Res Dev Disabil. 2010 May- Jun;31(3):698-704.

Oeseburg B, Jansen DE, Dijkstra GJ, Groothoff JW, Reijneveld SA. Prevalence of chronic diseases in adolescents with intellectual disability. Res Dev Disabil. 2010 May- Jun;31(3):698-704.

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Haveman M, Perry J, Salvador-Carulla L, Walsh PN, Kerr M, Van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk H, Van Hove G, Berger DM, Azema B, Buono S, Cara AC, Germanavicius A, Linehan C, Määttä T, Tossebro J, Weber G. Ageing and health status in adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the European POMONA II study. J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2011 Mar;36(1):49-60

Haveman M, Perry J, Salvador-Carulla L, Walsh PN, Kerr M, Van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk H, Van Hove G, Berger DM, Azema B, Buono S, Cara AC, Germanavicius A, Linehan C, Määttä T, Tossebro J, Weber G. Ageing and health status in adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the European POMONA II study. J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2011 Mar;36(1):49-60

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Stuart JM, Stewart-Brown SL, Harvey J, Morgan K. Deaths from asthma in the mentally handicapped. BMJ. 1990 Mar 17;300(6726):720-1

Stuart JM, Stewart-Brown SL, Harvey J, Morgan K. Deaths from asthma in the mentally handicapped. BMJ. 1990 Mar 17;300(6726):720-1

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Gale L, Naqvi H, Russ L. Asthma, smoking and BMI in adults with intellectual disabilities: a community-based survey. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2009 Sep;53(9):787-96.

Gale L, Naqvi H, Russ L. Asthma, smoking and BMI in adults with intellectual disabilities: a community-based survey. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2009 Sep;53(9):787-96.

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Decouflé P, Autry A. Increased mortality in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2002 Oct;16(4):375-82.

Decouflé P, Autry A. Increased mortality in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2002 Oct;16(4):375-82.

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Stuart JM, Stewart-Brown SL, Harvey J, Morgan K. Deaths from asthma in the mentally handicapped. BMJ. 1990 Mar 17;300(6726):720-1.

Stuart JM, Stewart-Brown SL, Harvey J, Morgan K. Deaths from asthma in the mentally handicapped. BMJ. 1990 Mar 17;300(6726):720-1.

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Schieve LA, Boulet SL, Boyle C, Rasmussen SA, Schendel D. Helath of children 3 to 17 years of age with Down syndrome in the 1997 2005 National Health Survey. Pediatrics. 2009; 123; e253-60.

Schieve LA, Boulet SL, Boyle C, Rasmussen SA, Schendel D. Helath of children 3 to 17 years of age with Down syndrome in the 1997 2005 National Health Survey. Pediatrics. 2009; 123; e253-60.

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Davis S, Durvasula S, Merhi D, Young P, Traini D, Bosnic-Anticevich S. The ability of people with intellectual disability to use inhalers - an exploratory mixed methods study. J Asthma. 2016 Feb;53(1):86-93

Davis S, Durvasula S, Merhi D, Young P, Traini D, Bosnic-Anticevich S. The ability of people with intellectual disability to use inhalers - an exploratory mixed methods study. J Asthma. 2016 Feb;53(1):86-93

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Davis SR, Durvasula S, Merhi D, Young PM, Traini D, Bosnic Anticevich SZ. Knowledge that people with intellectual disabilities have of their inhaled asthma medications: messages for pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm. 2016 Feb;38(1):135-43

Davis SR, Durvasula S, Merhi D, Young PM, Traini D, Bosnic Anticevich SZ. Knowledge that people with intellectual disabilities have of their inhaled asthma medications: messages for pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm. 2016 Feb;38(1):135-43