| 1. |
- Papadopoulos, Nikolaos G, et al.
(författare)
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Research needs in allergy: an EAACI position paper, in collaboration with EFA.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Clinical and translational allergy. - : Wiley. - 2045-7022. ; 2:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: In less than half a century, allergy, originally perceived as a rare disease, has become a major public health threat, today affecting the lives of more than 60 million people in Europe, and probably close to one billion worldwide, thereby heavily impacting the budgets of public health systems. More disturbingly, its prevalence and impact are on the rise, a development that has been associated with environmental and lifestyle changes accompanying the continuous process of urbanization and globalization. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prioritize and concert research efforts in the field of allergy, in order to achieve sustainable results on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this most prevalent chronic disease of the 21st century.The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is the leading professional organization in the field of allergy, promoting excellence in clinical care, education, training and basic and translational research, all with the ultimate goal of improving the health of allergic patients. The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) is a non-profit network of allergy, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) patients' organizations. In support of their missions, the present EAACI Position Paper, in collaboration with EFA, highlights the most important research needs in the field of allergy to serve as key recommendations for future research funding at the national and European levels.Although allergies may involve almost every organ of the body and an array of diverse external factors act as triggers, there are several common themes that need to be prioritized in research efforts. As in many other chronic diseases, effective prevention, curative treatment and accurate, rapid diagnosis represent major unmet needs. Detailed phenotyping/endotyping stands out as widely required in order to arrange or re-categorize clinical syndromes into more coherent, uniform and treatment-responsive groups. Research efforts to unveil the basic pathophysiologic pathways and mechanisms, thus leading to the comprehension and resolution of the pathophysiologic complexity of allergies will allow for the design of novel patient-oriented diagnostic and treatment protocols. Several allergic diseases require well-controlled epidemiological description and surveillance, using disease registries, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, as well as large biobanks. Additionally, there is a need for extensive studies to bring promising new biotechnological innovations, such as biological agents, vaccines of modified allergen molecules and engineered components for allergy diagnosis, closer to clinical practice. Finally, particular attention should be paid to the difficult-to-manage, precarious and costly severe disease forms and/or exacerbations. Nonetheless, currently arising treatments, mainly in the fields of immunotherapy and biologicals, hold great promise for targeted and causal management of allergic conditions. Active involvement of all stakeholders, including Patient Organizations and policy makers are necessary to achieve the aims emphasized herein.
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| 2. |
- Burney, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality and prevalence : the associations with smoking and poverty-a BOLD analysis
- 2014
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Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 69:5, s. 465-473
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a commonly reported cause of death and associated with smoking. However, COPD mortality is high in poor countries with low smoking rates. Spirometric restriction predicts mortality better than airflow obstruction, suggesting that the prevalence of restriction could explain mortality rates attributed to COPD. We have studied associations between mortality from COPD and low lung function, and between both lung function and death rates and cigarette consumption and gross national income per capita (GNI). Methods National COPD mortality rates were regressed against the prevalence of airflow obstruction and spirometric restriction in 22 Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study sites and against GNI, and national smoking prevalence. The prevalence of airflow obstruction and spirometric restriction in the BOLD sites were regressed against GNI and mean pack years smoked. Results National COPD mortality rates were more strongly associated with spirometric restriction in the BOLD sites (<60 years: men r(s)=0.73, p=0.0001; women r(s)=0.90, p<0.0001; 60+ years: men r(s)=0.63, p=0.0022; women r(s)=0.37, p=0.1) than obstruction (<60 years: men r(s)=0.28, p=0.20; women r(s)=0.17, p<0.46; 60+ years: men r(s)=0.28, p=0.23; women r(s)=0.22, p=0.33). Obstruction increased with mean pack years smoked, but COPD mortality fell with increased cigarette consumption and rose rapidly as GNI fell below US$ 15 000. Prevalence of restriction was not associated with smoking but also increased rapidly as GNI fell below US$ 15 000. Conclusions Smoking remains the single most important cause of obstruction but a high prevalence of restriction associated with poverty could explain the high 'COPD' mortality in poor countries.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- de Marco, Roberto, et al.
(författare)
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Risk Factors for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a European Cohort of Young Adults
- 2011
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Ingår i: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 183:7, s. 891-897
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale: Few studies have investigated the factors associated with the early inception of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: We investigated COPD risk factors in an international cohort of young adults using different spirometric definitions of the disease. Methods. We studied 4,636 subjects without asthma who had prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC measured in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey both in 1991 to 1993 (when they were 20-44 yr old) and in 1999 to 2002. COPD was defined according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease fixed cut-off criterion (FEV1/FVC < 0.70), and two criteria based on the Quanjer and LuftiBus reference equations (FEV1/FVC less than lower limit of normal). COPD determinants were studied using two-level Poisson regression models. Measurements and Main Results: COPD incidence ranged from 1.85 (lower limit of normal [Quanjer]) to 2.88 (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) cases/1,000/yr. Although about half of the cases had smoked less than 20 pack-years, smoking was the main risk factor for COPD, and it accounted for 29 to 39% of the new cases during the follow-up. Airway hyperresponsiveness was the second strongest risk factor (15-17% of new cases). Other determinants were respiratory infections in childhood and a family history of asthma, whereas the role of sex, age, and of being underweight largely depended on the definition of COPD used. Conclusions: COPD may start early in life. Smoking prevention should be given the highest priority to reduce COPD occurrence. Airway hyperresponsiveness, a family history of asthma, and respiratory infections in childhood are other important determinants of COPD. We suggest the need for a definition of COPD that is not exclusively based on spirometry.
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| 5. |
- Fjalldal, Sigridur B., et al.
(författare)
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Smoking, stages of change and decisional balance in Iceland and Sweden
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Clinical Respiratory Journal. - 1752-6981. ; 5:2, s. 76-83
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Smoking remains a significant health problem. Smoking interventions are important but selection of successful quitters can be difficult. Objective: To characterise smokers with emphasis on two constructs of the transtheoretical model, the stages of change and decisional balance. Methods: A random sample from adults aged 40 and over in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Uppsala, Sweden. Smokers were defined as being in the stage of pre-contemplation (not thinking of quitting within the next 6 months), contemplation (thinking of quitting within the next 6 months) or preparation (thinking of quitting within the next 30 days, having managed to quit for at least 24 h within the last 12 months). Results: A total of 226 participants were smokers: 72 (32%) were in the pre-contemplation stage, 126 (56%) in the contemplation stage and 28 (12%) in the preparation stage. A younger age, higher body mass index (BMI) and higher educational level were significantly related to being in a more advanced stage. A significant association was observed between decisional balance and stages of change such that decreased importance of the positive aspects of smoking and increased importance of the negative aspects of smoking were independently associated with an increased readiness to quit. Conclusion: The motivated smoker is likely to be young and educated with an above average BMI. A smoker in the contemplation stage is likely to maintain the negative aspects of smoking at a high level. Decreasing the value of the pros of smoking may facilitate the shift towards the stage of preparation.
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| 6. |
- Janson, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of COPD on health status : findings from the BOLD study
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 42:6, s. 1472-1483
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on health status in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) populations. We conducted a cross-sectional, general population-based survey in 11 985 subjects from 17 countries. We measured spirometric lung function and assessed health status using the Short Form 12 questionnaire. The physical and mental health component scores were calculated. Subjects with COPD (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity <0.70, n=2269) had lower physical component scores (44 +/- 10 versus 48 +/- 10 units, p<0.0001) and mental health component scores (51 +/- 10 versus 52 +/- 10 units, p=0.005) than subjects without COPD. The effect of reported heart disease, hypertension and diabetes on physical health component scores (-3 to -4 units) was considerably less than the effect of COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grade 3 (-8 units) or 4 (-11 units). Dyspnoea was the most important determinant of a low physical and mental health component scores. In addition, lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s, chronic cough, chronic phlegm and the presence of comorbidities were all associated with a lower physical health component score. COPD is associated with poorer health status but the effect is stronger on the physical than the mental aspects of health status. Severe COPD has a greater negative impact on health status than self-reported cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
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| 7. |
- Kato, Bernet, et al.
(författare)
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Can spirometric norms be set using pre- or post- bronchodilator test results in older people?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Respiratory Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1465-9921 .- 1465-993X. ; 13:1, s. 102-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is defined by post-bronchodilator spirometry. Data on "normal values" come predominantly from pre-bronchodilator spirometry. The effects of this on diagnosis are unknown.METHODS:Lower limits of normal (LLN) were estimated from "normal" participants in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) programme. Values separately derived using pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry were compared. Sensitivity and specificity of criteria derived from pre-bronchodilator spirometry and pre-bronchodilator spirometry adjusted by a constant were assessed in the remaining population. The "gold standard" was the LLN for the post-bronchodilator spirometry in the "normal population". For FEV1/FVC, sensitivity and specificity of criteria were assessed when a fixed value of < 70% was used rather than LLN.RESULTS:Of 6,600 participants with full data, 1,354 were defined as "normal". Mean differences between pre- and post- bronchodilator measurements were small and the Bland-Altman plots showed no association between difference and mean value. Compared with using the gold standard, however, tests using pre-bronchodilator spirometry had a sensitivity and specificity of detecting a low FEV1 of 78.4% and 100%, a low FVC of 99.6% and 99.1% and a low FEV1/FVC ratio of 65% and 100%. Adjusting this by a constant improved the sensitivity without substantially altering the specificity for FEV1 (99%, 99.8%), FVC (97.4%, 99.9%) and FEV1/FVC (98.7%, 99.5%).CONCLUSIONS: Using pre-bronchodilator spirometry to derive norms for lung function reduces sensitivity compared to a post-bronchodilator gold standard. Adjustment of these values by a constant can improve validity of the test.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Leynaert, Benedicte, et al.
(författare)
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Gender differences in prevalence, diagnosis and incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma : a population-based cohort
- 2012
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Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 67:7, s. 625-631
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Although women with severe non-allergic asthma may represent a substantial proportion of adults with asthma in clinical practice, gender differences in the incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma have been little investigated in the general population. Methods Gender differences in asthma prevalence, reported diagnosis and incidence were investigated in 9091 men and women randomly selected from the general population and followed up after 8-10 years as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The protocol included assessment of bronchial responsiveness, IgE specific to four common allergens and skin tests to nine allergens. Results Asthma was 20% more frequent in women than in men over the age of 35 years. Possible under-diagnosis of asthma appeared to be particularly frequent among non-atopic individuals, but was as frequent in women as in men. The follow-up of subjects without asthma at baseline showed a higher incidence of asthma in women than in men (HR 1.94; 95% CI 1.40 to 2.68), which was not explained by differences in smoking, obesity or lung function. More than 60% of women and 30% of men with new-onset asthma were non-atopic. The incidence of non-allergic asthma was higher in women than in men throughout all the reproductive years (HR 3.51; 95% CI 2.21 to 5.58), whereas no gender difference was observed for the incidence of allergic asthma. Conclusions This study shows that female sex is an independent risk factor for non-allergic asthma, and stresses the need for more careful assessment of possible non-allergic asthma in clinical practice, in men and women.
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| 10. |
- Schikowski, Tamara, et al.
(författare)
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Association of ambient air pollution with the prevalence and incidence of COPD
- 2014
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society. - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 44:3, s. 614-626
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of air pollution in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains uncertain.The aim was to assess the impact of chronic exposure to air pollution on COPD in four cohorts using the standardised ESCAPE exposure estimates. Annual average particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and road traffic exposure were assigned to home addresses using land-use regression models. COPD was defined by NHANES reference equation (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) less than the lower limit of normal) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criterion (FEV1/FVC <0.70) and categorised by severity in non-asthmatics.We included 6550 subjects with assigned NOx and 3692 with PM measures. COPD was not associated with NO2 or PM10 in any individual cohort. In meta-analyses only NO2, NOx, PM10 and the traffic indicators were positively, although not significantly, associated with COPD. The only statistically significant associations were seen in females (COPD prevalence using GOLD: OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.11-2.23; and incidence: OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.21-2.68).None of the principal results were statistically significant, the weak positive associations of exposure with COPD and the significant subgroup findings need to be evaluated in further well standardised cohorts followed up for longer time, and with time-matched exposure assignments.
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