| 1. |
- Ställberg, B, et al.
(författare)
-
Living with asthma in Sweden : the ALMA Study
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - 0954-6111. ; 97:7, s. 835-843
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Recently performed studies have found a number of limitations in the daily lives of asthmatics, and a large disparity between the perception of the sufferers and what health care professionals believe matters to asthmatics. Aim: What matters to Swedish asthma patients, what medicines do they use, and are they compliant with given prescriptions? A further aim was to compare perceptions about asthma and asthma management in asthmatics and among Swedish general practitioners (GP). Design: A structured telephone interview of a representative sample of Swedish asthmatics, and a mailed questionnaire survey among GPs from different parts of Sweden. Methods: Screening by telephone of a random sample of 10,350 subjects aged 18–45. Of those, 240 were subsequently selected for a detailed structured telephone interview about their asthma. A mailed structured questionnaire containing similar questions to those asked of the asthmatics was sent to 600 GPs, and 139 returned completed answers. Results: 16% of the asthmatics reported (asthma) symptoms occurring every day during the previous month. Nocturnal symptoms at least twice per week were reported by 19%. Both these were reported by considerably higher proportions of the asthmatics than the GPs had expected. A large majority classified their disease as mild or very mild, although great majority reported frequent symptoms. Activities or situations which caused symptoms of asthma often or “now and then” were physical exertion, 67%; bad weather, 59%; contact with animals/pets, 58%; and visits to cafés or restaurants, 36%; and several asthmatics avoided these activities due to their asthma. Conclusion: A great majority of asthmatics report a large number of symptoms and limitations in their daily living in proportions which were roughly expected by the GPs.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Commins, Scott P, et al.
(författare)
-
Galactose-α-1,3-galactose-specific IgE is associated with anaphylaxis but not asthma.
- 2012
-
Ingår i: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. - 1535-4970. ; 185:7, s. 723
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IgE antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) are common in the southeastern United States. These antibodies, which are induced by ectoparasitic ticks, can give rise to positive skin tests or serum assays with cat extract.
|
|
| 4. |
- Cornmins, Scott P., et al.
(författare)
-
Galactose-alpha-1,3-Galactose-Specific IgE Is Associated with Anaphylaxis but Not Asthma
- 2012
-
Ingår i: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X. ; 185:7, s. 723-730
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale: IgE antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) are common in the southeastern United States. These antibodies, which are induced by ectoparasitic ticks, can give rise to positive skin tests or serum assays with cat extract. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and asthma, and compare this with the relationship between asthma and IgE antibodies to Fel d 1 and other protein allergens. Methods: Patients being investigated for recurrent anaphylaxis, angioedema, or acute urticaria underwent spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, questionnaires, and serum IgE antibody assays. The results were compared with control subjects and cohorts from the emergency department in Virginia (n = 130), northern Sweden (n = 963), and rural Kenya (n = 131). Measurements and Main Results: Patients in Virginia with high-titer IgE antibodies to a-gal had normal lung function, low levels of exhaled nitric oxide, and low prevalence of asthma symptoms. Among patients in the emergency department and children in Kenya, there was no association between IgE antibodies to a-gal and asthma (odds ratios, 1.04 and 0.75, respectively). In Sweden, IgE antibodies to cat were closely correlated with IgE antibodies to Fel d 1 (r = 0.83) and to asthma (P < 0.001). Conclusions: These results provide a model of an ectoparasite-induced specific IgE response that can increase total serum IgE without creating a risk for asthma, and further evidence that the main allergens that are causally related to asthma are those that are inhaled.
|
|
| 5. |
- Gerdtham, Ulf, et al.
(författare)
-
Factors affecting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related costs:
- 2009
-
Ingår i: The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care. - 1618-7598. ; 10:2, s. 217-26
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing public health problem, generating considerable costs. The objective of this study was to identify factors affecting COPD-related costs. A cohort of 179 subjects with COPD was interviewed over the telephone on four occasions about their annual use of COPD-related resources. The data set and explanatory variables were analysed by means of multivariate regression techniques for six different types of cost: societal (or total), direct (health care) and indirect (productivity), and three subcomponents of direct costs-hospitalisation, outpatient and medication. Poor lung function, dyspnoea and asthma were independently associated with higher costs. Poor lung function (severity of COPD) significantly increased all six examined cost types. Dyspnoea (breathing problems) also increased costs, though to a varying extent. The presence of reported asthma increased total, direct, outpatient and medication costs. Poor lung function and, to a lesser extent, extent of dyspnoea and concomitant asthma, were all strongly associated with higher COPD-related costs. Strong efforts should be made to prevent the progression of COPD and its symptoms.
|
|
| 6. |
- Hagstad, Stig, et al.
(författare)
-
COPD among non-smokers - Report from the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - 0954-6111. ; 106:7, s. 980-988
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In westernized countries smoking and increasing age are the most important risk factors for COPD. Prevalence and risk factors of COPD among non-smokers are not well studied. Aim: To study the prevalence and risk factors of COPD among non-smokers and to determine the proportion of non-smokers among subjects with COPD. Methods: A random sample of 2470 subjects drawn from a population-based postal survey of 10,040 (85-88% participation) adults (aged 20-77) in Norrbotten, Sweden, were invited to structured interviews and lung function tests, and 1897 participated. COPD was classified using the fixed ratio (GOLD) definition and for comparison the lower limit of normal (LLN). Results: The prevalence of airway obstruction was 6.9% among non-smokers and strongly age related. The prevalence of GOLD stage >= II among non-smokers was 15%. Both among subjects with airway obstruction and among subjects with GOLD stage >= II, the proportions of nonsmokers were 20%. Of men with airway obstruction, 14.1% were non-smokers versus 26.8% among women. Non-smokers with GOLD stage >= II had significantly more symptoms and higher co-morbidity than non-smokers without airway obstruction. Sex, area of domicile and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was not significantly associated to airway obstruction among non-smokers. Using LLN for defining airway obstruction yielded a similar prevalence. Conclusion: The prevalence of airway obstruction among non-smokers was close to 7% and was associated with increasing age. One out of seven men with airway obstruction, defined using the fixed ratio, versus one out of four women had never smoked. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
