| 21. |
- Cerveri, Isa, et al.
(författare)
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Underestimation of airflow obstruction among young adults using FEV1/FVC<70% as a fixed cut-off : a longitudinal evaluation of clinical and functional outcomes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 63:12, s. 1040-1045
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Early detection of airflow obstruction is particularly important among young adults because they are more likely to benefit from intervention. Using the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEV1/FVC) <70% fixed ratio, airflow obstruction may be underdiagnosed. The lower limit of normal (LLN), which is statistically defined by the lower fifth percentile of a reference population, is physiologically appropriate but it still needs a clinical validation.Methods: To evaluate the characteristics and longitudinal outcomes of subjects misidentified as normal by the fixed ratio with respect to the LLN, 6249 participants (aged 20-44 years) in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey were examined and divided into three groups (absence of airflow obstruction by the LLN and the fixed ratio; presence of airflow obstruction only by the LLN; presence of airflow obstruction by the two criteria) for 1991-1993. LLN equations were obtained from normal non-smoking participants. A set of clinical and functional outcomes was evaluated in 1999-2002.Results: The misidentified subjects were 318 (5.1%); only 45.6% of the subjects with airflow obstruction by the LLN were also identified by the fixed cut-off. At baseline, FEV1 (107%, 97%, 85%) progressively decreased and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (slope 7.84, 6.32, 5.57) progressively increased across the three groups. During follow-up, misidentified subjects had a significantly higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a significantly higher use of health resources (medicines, emergency department visits/hospital admissions) because of breathing problems than subjects without airflow obstruction (p<0.001).Conclusions: Our findings show the importance of using statistically derived spirometric criteria to identify airflow obstruction.
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| 22. |
- Chen, Chih-Mei, et al.
(författare)
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Is There a Threshold Concentration of Cat Allergen Exposure on Respiratory Symptoms in Adults?
- 2015
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Objective Cat allergen concentrations higher than 8 mu g/g in settled house dust, have been suggested to provoke exacerbation of allergic respiratory symptoms. However, whether the 8 mu g/g of indoor cat allergen concentration is indeed the minimal exposure required for triggering the asthma related respiratory symptoms or the development of sensitization has not yet been confirmed. We studied the associations between domestic cat allergen concentrations and allergic symptoms in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II, with the aim of confirming this suggested threshold. Methods Cat allergen concentrations were measured in the mattress dust of 3003 participants from 22 study centres. Levels of specific immunoglobulin E to cat allergens were measured in serum samples using an immunoassay. Information on allergic symptoms, medication use, home environment and smoking was obtained from a face-to-face interview. Results Domestic cat allergen concentrations were not associated with allergic/asthmatic symptoms in the entire study population, nor in the subset sensitized to cat allergen. We also found no association among individuals exposed to concentrations higher than 8 mu g/g. However, exposure to medium cat allergen concentrations (0.24-0.63 mu g/g) was positively associated with reported asthmatic respiratory symptoms in subjects who have experienced allergic symptoms when near animals. Conclusions The proposed 8 mu g/g threshold of cat allergen concentrations for the exacerbation of allergic/respiratory symptoms was not confirmed in a general European adult population. Potential biases attributable to avoidance behaviours and an imprecise exposure assessment cannot be excluded.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Chinn, Susan, et al.
(författare)
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Bronchial responsiveness in atopic adults increases with exposure to cat allergen
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 176:1, s. 20-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale: The association of asthma with sensitization and allergen exposure is known to be complex. There have been few studies of bronchial responsiveness in relation to both risk factors in adults. Objectives: To determine the relation of bronchial responsiveness to allergen exposure and IgE sensitization in a community study taking into account the major determinants of bronchial responsiveness in adulthood. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from 1,884 participants in 20 centers in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey follow-up, which included measurement of house dust mite and cat allergen in mattress dust samples, and IgE sensitization to four allergens. Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine was expressed as a continuous variable, and analyzed by multiple regression. Measurements and Main Results: The trend toward greater bronchial responsiveness with increasing exposure to cat allergen was greater in those sensitized to any of the four allergens than those not sensitized (p = 0.001); there was no significant interaction between cat sensitization and Fel d 1 exposure. No trend was found with house dust mite allergen exposure. The difference in bronchial responsiveness between those exposed to the highest levels compared with the lowest was approximately –2.02 doubling doses of PD20 (95% confidence interval, –3.06 to –0.97), and nearly as great in those exposed to more moderate levels. Conclusions: Cat allergen exposure at moderate levels may be harmful to all atopic adults. The clinical implication is that it is insufficient to test patients with asthma for cat sensitization; all atopic individuals may benefit from reduced cat exposure.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Chinn, Susan, et al.
(författare)
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The relation of adult bronchial responsiveness to serious childhood respiratory illness in the ECRHS
- 2007
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 101:5, s. 983-988
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Respiratory symptoms in adulthood have been found to be associated with childhood respiratory infection, but few studies have analyzed adult bronchial responsiveness (BHR) with adequate adjustment for known risk factors. Objective: To estimate the relation of BHR with serious childhood respiratory infections in a large population study. Methods: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was a cross-sectional population-based survey in 34 centers. Data on serious respiratory infections before the age of 5 years and possible confounders were obtained from a questionnaire administered in the clinic. Blood samples were taken for measurement of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE to four common allergens, and spirometry and bronchial challenge with methacholine were performed. A continuous measure of BHR was analyzed by multiple regression, in 11,282 participants, in relation to serious respiratory infection and other potential risk factors, adjusted for center and major determinants of adult BHR. Results: Those reporting a serious childhood respiratory infection had greater BHR, by an amount corresponding to approximately 0.23 doubling doses (95% confidence interval 0.02-0.44) of the amount of methacholine causing a 20% fall (PD20) in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). All childhood factors explained less than 0.3% of variation in BHR in addition to over 20% by factors measured in adulthood. The relation of BHR to BMI was confined to smokers. Conclusions: We found an effect of serious childhood respiratory infection on adult BHR, but this was small in comparison to relations of BHR to IgE-sensitization and airway caliber.
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| 27. |
- Corsico, Angelo G, et al.
(författare)
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Factors affecting adherence to asthma treatment in an international cohort of young and middle-aged adults
- 2007
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 101:6, s. 1363-1367
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background A major reason of the poor control of asthma is that patients fail to adhere to their treatment. The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting changes in asthma treatment adherence in an international cohort. Methods A follow-up study was carried out by means of a structured clinical interview in 971 subjects with asthma from 12 countries who participated in both the European Community Respiratory Health Survey: ECRHS-I (1990–94) and ECRHS-II (1998–2002). Subjects were considered adherent if they reported they normally took all the prescribed drugs. A logistic model was used to study the adjusted effect of the determinants. Results The net change in adherence to anti-asthmatic treatment per 10 years of follow-up was −2% (95% CI: −9.5, 5.5), 7.5% (−2.6, 17.6), 15.0% (6.6, 23.5) and 19.8% (4.1, 35.5), respectively, in Nordic, Mediterranean, Continental and extra-European areas. Among the 428 non-adherent subjects in ECRHS-I, having regular consultations with health care professionals was the strongest predictor of increased adherence (OR 3.32; 95% CI: 1.08–10.17). Among the 543 adherent subjects in ECRHS-I, using inhaled corticosteroids significantly predicted a persistence of adherence (OR 2.04; 95% CI: 1.11–3.75). No effect of gender, age, duration of the disease, smoking habit and educational level was observed. Conclusions Our findings highlight the key role of doctors and nurses in educating and regularly reviewing the patients and support the efforts for an improvement of clinical communication.
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| 28. |
- de Marco, Roberto, et al.
(författare)
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Asthma, COPD and overlap syndrome : a longitudinal study in young European adults
- 2015
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 46:3, s. 671-679
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We compared risk factors and clinical characteristics, 9-year lung function change and hospitalisation risk across subjects with the asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS), asthma or COPD alone, or none of these diseases. Participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in 1991-1993 (aged 20-44 years) and 1999-2001 were included. Chronic airflow obstruction was defined as pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity
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| 29. |
- de Marco, Roberto, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cohort of young adults according to the presence of chronic cough and phlegm
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 175:1, s. 32-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale: The few prospective studies aimed at assessing the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to the presence of chronic cough/phlegm have produced contrasting results. Objectives: To assess the incidence of COPD in a cohort of young adults and to test whether chronic cough/phlegm and dyspnea are independent predictors of COPD. Methods: An international cohort of 5,002 subjects without asthma (ages 20-44 yr) with normal lung function (FEV1/FVC ratio ≥ 70%) from 12 countries was followed from 1991-2002 in the frame of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Incident cases of COPD were those who had an FEV 1/FVC ratio less than 70% at the end of the follow-up, but did not report having had a doctor diagnose asthma during the follow-up. Main Results: The incidence rate of COPD was 2.8 cases/1,000/yr (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-3.3). Chronic cough/phlegm was an independent and statistically significant predictor of COPD (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.17-2.93) after adjusting for smoking habits and other potential confounders, whereas dyspnea was not associated with the disease (IRR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.64-1.50). Subjects who reported chronic cough/phlegm both at baseline and at the follow-up had a nearly threefold-increased risk of developing COPD with respect to asymptomatic subjects (IRR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.44-5.79). Conclusions: The incidence of COPD is substantial even in young adults. The presence of chronic cough/phlegm identifies a subgroup of subjects with a high risk of developing COPD, independently of smoking habits.
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| 30. |
- de Marco, Roberto, et al.
(författare)
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Inhaled steroids are associated with reduced lung function decline in subjects with asthma with elevated total IgE
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 119:3, s. 611-617
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the long-term association between inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and lung function decline in asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether prolonged treatment with ICSs is associated with FEV(1) decline in adults with asthma. METHODS: An international cohort of 667 subjects with asthma (20-44 years old) was identified in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (1991-1993) and followed up from 1999 to 2002. Spirometry was performed on both occasions. FEV(1) decline was analyzed according to age, sex, height, body mass index, total IgE, time of ICS use, and smoking, while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: As ICS use increased, the decline in FEV(1) was lower (P trend = .025): on average, decline passed from 34 mL/y in nonusers (half of the sample) to 20 mL/y in subjects treated for 48 months or more (18%). When adjusting for all covariates, there was an interaction (P = .02) between ICS use and total IgE: in subjects with high (>100 kU/L) IgE, ICS use for 4 years or more was associated with a lower FEV(1) decline (23 mL/y; 95% CI, 8-38 compared with nonusers). This association was not seen in those with lower IgE. CONCLUSION: Although confirming a beneficial long-term association between ICSs and lung function in asthma, our study suggests that subjects with high IgE could maximally benefit from a prolonged ICS treatment. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study adds further evidence to the beneficial effect of inhaled steroids on lung function in asthma; future studies will clarify whether calibrating the corticosteroid dose according to the level of total IgE is a feasible approach in asthma management.
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