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Ntzounas A, Giannakopoulos I, Lampropoulos P, Vervenioti A, Koliofoti EG, Malliori S, Priftis KN, Dimitriou G, Anthracopoulos MB, Fouzas S. Changing trends in the prevalence of childhood asthma over 40 years in Greece. Pediatr Pulmonol 2021; 56:3242-3249. [PMID: 34288606 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A series of repeated questionnaire surveys among 8- to 9-year-old school children in the city of Patras, Greece, demonstrated a continuous rise in the prevalence of wheeze/asthma from 1978 to 2003, with a plateau between 2003 and 2008. We further investigated wheeze/asthma trends within the same environment over the last decade. METHODS Two follow-up surveys were conducted in 2013 (N = 2554) and 2018 (N = 2648). Physician-diagnosed wheeze and asthma were analyzed in relation to their occurrence (recent-onset: within the last 2 years; noncurrent: before 2 years; persistent: both prior and within the last 2 years). In 2018, spirometry was also performed in participants reporting symptoms and in a sample of healthy controls. RESULTS The prevalence of current wheeze/asthma declined from 6.9% in 2008% to 5.2% in 2013% and 4.3% in 2018. The persistent and noncurrent wheeze/asthma groups followed this overall trend (P-for-trend <0.001), while the prevalence of recent-onset wheeze/asthma remained unchanged (P-for-trend >0.05). Persistent and noncurrent wheezers were also more frequently diagnosed with asthma, in contrast to those with recent-onset wheeze. The FEV1 z-score was less than -1 in 32.1% of children with recent-onset and in 22.4% of those with persistent wheeze/asthma; both rates were higher than those of the Noncurrent wheeze/asthma group (7.1%; p < .05) and of healthy controls (3.5%; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of childhood wheeze/asthma has declined significantly during the last decade in Greece. The reversing trend may in part be attributed to changing asthma perceptions among physicians and/or parents, especially in the case of younger children with troublesome respiratory symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Ntzounas
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Ioannis Giannakopoulos
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Lampropoulos
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Aggeliki Vervenioti
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Eleana-Georgia Koliofoti
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Styliani Malliori
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Kostas N Priftis
- Third Department of Pediatrics, "Attikon" Hospital and Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Gabriel Dimitriou
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Michael B Anthracopoulos
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
| | - Sotirios Fouzas
- Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Patras and University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, Greece
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Perry DC, Thomson C, Pope D, Bruce CE, Platt MJ. A case control study to determine the association between Perthes' disease and the recalled use of tobacco during pregnancy, and biological markers of current tobacco smoke exposure. Bone Joint J 2017; 99-B:1102-1108. [PMID: 28768789 DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.99b8.bjj-2016-1282.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS It is well established that there is a strong association between Perthes' disease and worsening socioeconomic deprivation. It has been suggested that the primary determinant driving this association is exposure to tobacco smoke. This study aimed to examine this hypothesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS A hospital case-control study (n = 149/146) examined the association between tobacco smoke exposure and Perthes' disease, adjusting for area-level socioeconomic deprivation. Tobacco smoke exposure was assessed by parental questionnaire of smoking habits during pregnancy, and by quantitative assay of current exposure using the urinary cotinine-creatinine ratio, which is a widely used and validated measure of tobacco smoke exposure. RESULTS The odds of Perthes' disease significantly increased with reported in utero exposure after adjustment for socioeconomic deprivation (maternal smoking odds ratio (OR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17 to 3.63; paternal smoking OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.46). The cotinine-creatinine ratio was significantly greater in cases, OR 1.63 (95% CI 1.09 to 2.43), suggesting a greater 'dose' of current tobacco exposure. CONCLUSION An association exists between tobacco smoke exposure and Perthes' disease but we remain unable to disentangle the association with socioeconomic deprivation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1102-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Perry
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital, E Prescot Road, Liverpool, L14 5AB, UK
| | - C Thomson
- Mersey Deanery, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - D Pope
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
| | - C E Bruce
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital , E Prescot Road, Liverpool, L14 5AB, UK
| | - M J Platt
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common and prevalent problems worldwide affecting over 300 million individuals. There is some evidence from observational and intervention studies to suggest a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA in inflammatory diseases, specifically asthma. Marine-based n-3 PUFA have therefore been proposed as a possible complementary/alternative therapy for asthma. The proposed anti-inflammatory effects of n-3 fatty acids may be linked to a change in cell membrane composition. This altered membrane composition following n-3 fatty acid supplementation (primarily EPA and DHA) can modify lipid mediator generation via the production of eicosanoids with a reduced inflammatory potential/impact. A recently identified group of lipid mediators derived from EPA including E-series resolvins are proposed to be important in the resolution of inflammation. Reduced inflammation attenuates the severity of asthma including symptoms (dyspnoea) and exerts a bronchodilatory effect. There have been no major health side effects reported with the dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids or their mediators; consequently supplementing with n-3 fatty acids is an attractive non-pharmacological intervention which may benefit asthma.
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Barnish MS, Tagiyeva N, Devereux G, Aucott L, Turner S. Diverging prevalences and different risk factors for childhood asthma and eczema: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e008446. [PMID: 26059525 PMCID: PMC4466692 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the prevalences of and risk factors for asthma, wheeze, hay fever and eczema in primary schoolchildren in Aberdeen in 2014. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Primary schools in Aberdeen, North-East Scotland. PARTICIPANTS Children in Scottish school years primary 1-7 were handed a questionnaire by their class teacher to be completed by their parents and returned to the researchers by post or online. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Lifetime history of asthma, eczema and hay fever, and recent history of wheeze. RESULTS 41 schools agreed to participate (87%). 11,249 questionnaires were distributed and 3935 returned (35%). A parent-reported lifetime history of asthma, eczema and hay fever was present in 14%, 30% and 24% of children, respectively. The odds of lifetime asthma increased with age (OR 1.1 per year, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.2), male sex (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.3), parental smoking (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.3) and eczema (OR 6.6, 95% CI 5.2 to 8.4). Prevalence of recent wheeze was also reported to be 14% and was positively associated with male sex, parental smoking and eczema. In contrast, parental eczema was the only identified predictor of childhood eczema risk. CONCLUSIONS The lifetime prevalence of asthma in primary schoolchildren was 14% in this survey, approximately half the prevalence of eczema. We report diverging prevalences in relation to previous studies in our locality, and different risk factors for asthma and eczema. These findings suggest that asthma and eczema are unlikely to have a common origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell S Barnish
- Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | | | - Lorna Aucott
- Medical Statistics Team, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Steve Turner
- Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Sá-Sousa A, Jacinto T, Azevedo LF, Morais-Almeida M, Robalo-Cordeiro C, Bugalho-Almeida A, Bousquet J, Fonseca JA. Operational definitions of asthma in recent epidemiological studies are inconsistent. Clin Transl Allergy 2014; 4:24. [PMID: 25136441 PMCID: PMC4136946 DOI: 10.1186/2045-7022-4-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The best combination of questions to define asthma in epidemiological asthma studies is not known. We summarized the operational definitions of asthma used in prevalence studies and empirically assess how asthma prevalence estimates vary depending on the definition used. METHODS We searched the Thomson Reuters ISI Web of knowledge and included (1) cross-sectional studies (2) on asthma prevalence (3) conducted in the general population and (4) containing an explicit definition of asthma. The search was limited to the 100 most-cited papers or published since January 2010. For each paper, we recorded the asthma definition used and other variables. Then we applied the definitions to the data of the Portuguese National Asthma survey (INAsma) and of the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) computing asthma prevalence estimates for the different definitions. RESULTS Of 1738 papers retrieved, 117 were included for analysis. Lifetime asthma, diagnosed asthma and current asthma were defined in 8, 12 and 29 different ways, respectively. By applying definitions of current asthma on INAsma and NHANES data, the prevalence ranged between 5.3%-24.4% and 1.1%-17.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS There is considerable heterogeneity in the definitions of asthma used in epidemiological studies leading to highly variable estimates of asthma prevalence. Studies to inform a standardized operational definition are needed. Meanwhile, we propose a set of questions to be reported when defining asthma in epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sá-Sousa
- Center for research in health technologies and information systems.– CINTESIS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tiago Jacinto
- Center for research in health technologies and information systems.– CINTESIS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Allergy Unit, Instituto CUF Porto e Hospital CUF Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Filipe Azevedo
- Center for research in health technologies and information systems.– CINTESIS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Health Information and Decision Sciences Department – CIDES, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário Morais-Almeida
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Hospital CUF-Descobertas, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Robalo-Cordeiro
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Jean Bousquet
- Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, CESP Inserm U1018, Villejuif, France
| | - João Almeida Fonseca
- Center for research in health technologies and information systems.– CINTESIS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Allergy Unit, Instituto CUF Porto e Hospital CUF Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Health Information and Decision Sciences Department – CIDES, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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Abstract
The asthma epidemic of the last few decades may have peaked; studies suggest that the incidence and prevalence of asthma has decreased in some countries in the last few years, although other studies suggest continuing small increases in prevalence. Increasing awareness and changing diagnostic habits make precise evaluation of epidemiologic trends difficult in the absence of a gold-standard test for asthma, and on a global basis uncertainty persists. Trends in prevalence in some populations (eg, immigrants, farming communities) suggest both adverse and beneficial effects of specific environmental factors. Although the effects of indoor allergens, dampness, and mold and of outdoor air pollutants, especially traffic related, have traditionally dominated risk-factor research, more recent epidemiologic and clinical studies have focused on metabolic and nutritional factors, including maternal obesity and vitamin D levels, mode of delivery and its effect on the infant microbiome, fetal and infant growth, the psychosocial environment, and medication use by mother and infant. It is likely that changes in incidence and prevalence are due to multiple factors, each contributing a relatively small effect. Longitudinal studies from pregnancy through childhood to adulthood will yield greater insights into the complex pathways leading to asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm R Sears
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, de Groote School of Medicine, McMaster University; Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Koshy G, Akrouf KAS, Kelly Y, Delpisheh A, Brabin BJ. Asthma in children in relation to pre-term birth and fetal growth restriction. Matern Child Health J 2014; 17:1119-29. [PMID: 22903307 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-012-1114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To assess the impact of parental asthma on risk of pre-term birth (PTB) and intrauterine growth restriction, and their subsequent association with childhood asthma. Three sequential cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 1993 (3,746), 1998 (1,964) and 2006 (1,074) in the same 15 schools among 5-11 year old children in Merseyside using the same respiratory health questionnaire completed by parents (sample size in brackets). Between 1993 and 2006, prevalence of PTB varied between 12.4 and 15.2 %, and of small for gestational age (SGA or growth restricted) babies between 2.1 and 4.6 %, and maternal asthma prevalence between 8.1 and 13.4 %. For the combined surveys mothers with asthma were more likely to have a PTB than non-asthmatic mothers (OR 1.39, 95 % CI 1.10-1.95, p < 0.001), and in the 2006 survey were more likely to have an SGA baby. 40.9 % of PTBs of asthmatic mothers developed doctor diagnosed asthma compared to 34.3 % for term babies (adjusted OR 1.65, 1.34-2.04, p < 0.001). The corresponding estimates for the symptom triad of cough, wheeze and breathlessness were 19.4 and 17.6 % (adjusted OR 1.78, 0.79-3.98). Conversely SGA babies were less likely to develop doctor diagnosed asthma (adjusted OR 0.49, 0.27-0.90, p < 0.021), or the symptom triad of cough, wheeze and breathlessness (adjusted OR 0.22, 0.05-0.97, p < 0.043), whether or not the mother was asthmatic. Maternal asthma is an independent risk factor for PTB which predisposes to childhood asthma. Intrauterine growth restriction was protective against childhood asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gibby Koshy
- Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Preterm birth and childhood wheezing disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2014; 11:e1001596. [PMID: 24492409 PMCID: PMC3904844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence implicates early life factors in the aetiology of non-communicable diseases, including asthma/wheezing disorders. We undertook a systematic review investigating risks of asthma/wheezing disorders in children born preterm, including the increasing numbers who, as a result of advances in neonatal care, now survive very preterm birth. METHODS AND FINDINGS Two reviewers independently searched seven online databases for contemporaneous (1 January 1995-23 September 2013) epidemiological studies investigating the association between preterm birth and asthma/wheezing disorders. Additional studies were identified through reference and citation searches, and contacting international experts. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the Effective Public Health Practice Project instrument. We pooled unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates using random-effects meta-analysis, investigated "dose-response" associations, and undertook subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses to assess the robustness of associations. We identified 42 eligible studies from six continents. Twelve were excluded for population overlap, leaving 30 unique studies involving 1,543,639 children. Preterm birth was associated with an increased risk of wheezing disorders in unadjusted (13.7% versus 8.3%; odds ratio [OR] 1.71, 95% CI 1.57-1.87; 26 studies including 1,500,916 children) and adjusted analyses (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.29-1.65; 17 studies including 874,710 children). The risk was particularly high among children born very preterm (<32 wk gestation; unadjusted: OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.61-3.44; adjusted: OR 2.81, 95% CI 2.55-3.12). Findings were most pronounced for studies with low risk of bias and were consistent across sensitivity analyses. The estimated population-attributable risk of preterm birth for childhood wheezing disorders was ≥3.1%. Key limitations related to the paucity of data from low- and middle-income countries, and risk of residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS There is compelling evidence that preterm birth-particularly very preterm birth-increases the risk of asthma. Given the projected global increases in children surviving preterm births, research now needs to focus on understanding underlying mechanisms, and then to translate these insights into the development of preventive interventions. REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42013004965.
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Parental compliance--an emerging problem in Liverpool community child health surveys 1991-2006. BMC Med Res Methodol 2012; 12:53. [PMID: 22520150 PMCID: PMC3464653 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-12-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Compliance is a critical issue for parental questionnaires in school based epidemiological surveys and high compliance is difficult to achieve. The objective of this study was to determine trends and factors associated with parental questionnaire compliance during respiratory health surveys of school children in Merseyside between 1991 and 2006. Methods Four cross-sectional respiratory health surveys employing a core questionnaire and methodology were conducted in 1991, 1993, 1998 and 2006 among 5-11 year old children in the same 10 schools in Bootle and 5 schools in Wallasey, Merseyside. Parental compliance fell sequentially in consecutive surveys. This analysis aimed to determine the association of questionnaire compliance with variation in response rates to specific questions across surveys, and the demographic profiles for parents of children attending participant schools. Results Parental questionnaire compliance was 92% (1872/2035) in 1991, 87.4% (3746/4288) in 1993, 78.1% (1964/2514) in 1998 and 30.3% (1074/3540) in 2006. The trend to lower compliance in later surveys was consistent across all surveyed schools. Townsend score estimations of socio-economic status did not differ between schools with high or low questionnaire compliance and were comparable across the four surveys with only small differences between responders and non-responders to specific core questions. Respiratory symptom questions were mostly well answered with fewer than 15% of non-responders across all surveys. There were significant differences between mean child age, maternal and paternal smoking prevalence, and maternal employment between the four surveys (all p<0.01). Out-migration did not differ between surveys (p=0.256) with three quarters of parents resident for at least 3 years in the survey areas. Conclusion Methodological differences or changes in socio-economic status of respondents between surveys were unlikely to explain compliance differences. Changes in maternal employment patterns may have been contributory. This analysis demonstrates a major shift in community parental questionnaire compliance over a 15 year period to 2006. Parental questionnaire compliance must be factored into survey designs and methodologies.
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The role of airborne microbes in school and its impact on asthma, allergy, and respiratory symptoms among school children. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1097/mrm.0b013e32834a449c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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