[Prevalence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in A Coruña (Spain)]

[Variability and suitability of anti-asmathic treatment in pediatric primary health care]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the use patterns and the characteristics of anti-asmathic prescriptions in pediatric primary health care.

DESIGN

Observational and retrospective study.

LOCATION

Pediatric primary health care, Asturias, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

Drug prescriptions in respiratory diseases in children (<14years old) during 2011.

PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS

Data obtained from the billing database of the Regional Health Service of Asturias and analysed by sanitary district and primary health centres, calculating the number of DDD/1.000 children/day (DHD). Clinical records audit in 6 paediatric surgeries of sanitary district V to evaluate the suitability of the drug prescriptions to the current recommendations.

RESULTS

The main group were bronchodilators (17.14DHD) with predominance of the inhaled route (14DHD). We observe more use of inhaled corticoids (4.83DHD), with an important use of fluticasone. We considered un-suitable 94.3% oral bronchodilators, and >50% of mepiramine prescriptions. We registered off-label prescriptions, 17.8% of them were about oral salbutamol, being used in children <2years old.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of anti-asthmatic drugs in our region is high, maybe it's related to the asthma prevalence. We observed variability between sanitary districts and health centres. The prescription patterns are closed to the current recommendation, except in the case of oral bronchodilators.

Cross-sectional study about impact of parental smoking on rhinitis symptoms in children

OBJECTIVE

Assess the prevalence of rhinitis and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of children in our community and its relationship with symptoms of rhinitis METHODS (DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES): Cross-sectional study using questionnaire on rhinitis of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, in children (6-7 years) and adolescents (13-14 years). Categories: "rhinitis ever", "recent rhinitis", "recent rhinoconjunctivitis", "severe rhinoconjunctivitis". Parental smoking: (i) neither parent smokes; (ii) only the mother smokes; (iii) only the father smokes; and (iv) both parents smoke. Odds ratio of the prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis according to ETS exposure was calculated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

10 690 children and 10 730 adolescents. The prevalence of "rhinitis ever" in children: 29.4%, "recent rhinitis" 24%, "recent rhinoconjunctivitis" 11.5% and "severe rhinoconjunctivitis" 0.1%. In adolescents: 46.2%, 34.5%, 16.2% and 0.2%, respectively. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in the home occurred in 51% of cases. Parental smoking was associated with a higher prevalence of forms of rhinitis in adolescents when only the mother was a smoker. In children when both parents were smokers.

CONCLUSION

Rhinitis is highly prevalent in our community. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure is still very common. The relationship between ETS and rhinitis symptoms in children of this community is not as robust as that found for asthma.

Obesity and asthma: an association modified by age

BACKGROUND

Some studies indicate some causal relationship between obesity and asthma, while others show inconsistent results. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma according to obesity in children.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study, following the ISAAC study methodology, was conducted on two randomly selected groups consisting of 6-7 year-old children (n=7485) and 13-14 year-old adolescents (n=8496). The asthma symptoms and potential risk factors were determined from the questionnaire. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the body mass index. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted prevalence odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Obesity was associated with an increase in wheezing ever (OR: 1.35) and exercise-induced asthma (OR: 1.62) in the 6-7 year-old group. No significant relationship was observed in the adolescent population.

CONCLUSION

Obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma in young children, but not in adolescents.

Impact of parental smoking on childhood asthma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of the childhood population in this community and its relationship with asthma symptoms.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire on children and adolescents in this community. The symptoms "wheezing ever", "current asthma", "severe asthma", and "exercise-induced asthma" were defined by this questionnaire. Parental smoking was classified into four mutually exclusive categories: 1) no parent smokes; 2) only the mother smokes; 3) only the father smokes; and 4) both parents smoke. The odds ratio of the prevalence of asthma symptoms according to ETS exposure was calculated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 10,314 children and 10,453 adolescents were included. Over 51% of the children and adolescents were exposed to ETS at home. ETS is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma symptoms, particularly if the mother or both parents smoke.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of ETS is still high in this community, although there has been a decreasing tendency in the last 15 years. ETS is associated with higher prevalence of asthma.

Truck traffic related air pollution associated with asthma symptoms in young boys: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of intensity of truck traffic on asthma symptomatology, and its relationship with age and gender.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted on children and adolescents from Galicia (North-West Spain).

METHODS

Following the methodology of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): children from schools randomly selected, answered a self-administered questionnaire included questions on asthma symptoms and some risk factors. The association between self-reported truck traffic on the street of residence and symptoms of asthma were investigated by logistic regression adjusted for body mass index, maternal education and parental smoking.

RESULTS

Almost 40% of children in Galicia are exposed to the frequent and constant passing of heavy goods vehicles. The odds of 6-7 year-old boys having severe or exercise induced asthma is tripled when they live in streets with the constant passing of heavy goods vehicles, compared with those living in streets where these vehicles never pass. In adolescents and 6-7 year-old girls, no relationship was observed between truck traffic and asthma symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study appear to support a distinct effect of truck traffic on asthma symptoms depending on the age and sex of the exposed population, being more harmful for young males.

Exposure to paracetamol and asthma symptoms

BACKGROUND

Paracetamol is one of the factors that have been associated with the observed increase in asthma prevalence in the last few years. The influence of environmental or genetic factors in this disease may be different in some countries than in others. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the paracetamol consumption and asthma prevalence in our community.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on more than 20,000 children and adolescents in Galicia, Spain. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methodology was used to collect the information on asthma symptoms in children, paracetamol consumption, body mass index (BMI), pets in the home, education level of the mother and parental asthma and smoking habits. The influence of paracetamol consumption on the prevalence of asthma symptoms was calculated using logistic regression, adjusted for the other parameters included in the study.

RESULTS

After adjusting for gender, BMI, having a cat or dog, maternal education, parental asthma and smoking, in 6- to 7-year-old children, the consumption of paracetamol during the first year of life is associated with asthma [odds ratio (OR) 2.04 (1.79-2.31) for wheezing at some time]. Paracetamol consumption in the previous year leads to a significant increase in the probability of wheezing at some time [OR 3.32 (2.51-4.41)] in young children and adolescents [OR 2.12 (1.68-2.67)].

CONCLUSIONS

Paracetamol consumption is associated with a significant increase in asthma symptoms. The effect is greater the more often the drug is taken.

Asthma and risk of lung cancer

Asthma is a very common chronic disease that occurs in all age groups. Its high prevalence has significant health costs, which are even higher in the most severe disease forms. Lung cancer has the highest incidence of all cancers in the developed world and is an important cause of mortality. Patients with lung cancer are a big economic burden on health services, both in direct and indirect costs. Different authors suggest that atopic constitution, including different manifestations of allergy and asthma, are possible risk factors for lung cancer, above all in never-smokers. Given the high asthma prevalence and lung cancer incidence and mortality in developed countries, this association would have important public health implications. Uncertainties about the association and the underlying physiopathological mechanisms, however, seem to require further studies.

Prevalence and geographic variations in asthma symptoms in children and adolescents in Galicia (Spain)

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence and geographic variations of the symptoms associated with asthma in Galician children and adolescents.

POPULATION AND METHODS

A cross-sectional epidemiological study following ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) methodology, and using a written questionnaire distributed in schools. The study sample included 10,371 6-7 year-old children and 10,372 13-14 year-old adolescents, all of them from Galician Health Areas. A logistic regression model was used to analyse geographic variations.

RESULTS

In the 6-7 year-old group, wheezing in the last 12 months varied from 11.4% (Santiago) to 15.7% (Vigo) and in the adolescents varied from 8.8% (Ourense) to 18.8% (Vigo). The distribution by gender showed a predominant significance in 6-7 year-old males (P<.001), and near to be statistically significant in 13-14 year-old females (P=.08). The risk (odds ratio [OR]) of wheezing in the last 12 months in the area with highest prevalence in comparison with the area of lowest prevalence was 1.45 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.12-1.88) for children and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.82-3.13) for adolescents. The estimated prevalence of asthma in the Autonomous Community of Galicia was 13.6% in younger children and 12.2% in adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months in the different areas of Galicia is considerably higher than the rest of Spanish ISAAC cities in the 6-7 years group and very similar in the 13-14 years group, except in Vigo where it is considerably higher. We found a clearly defined geographic pattern in the adolescent group, with higher prevalences in coastal areas than in the interior.

Mediterranean diet and asthma in Spanish schoolchildren

There is still debate on the effect of dietetic factors on the prevalence or severity of asthma, as well as the interaction with other factors. We have analysed the prevalence and severity of asthma according to adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), its association with obesity and family life style. We performed a cross-sectional study on 14,700 children and adolescents in six health areas in our region. We used the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire to collect asthma symptoms, dietary habits, anthropometric parameters, parental smoking habits and maternal education level. The diet pattern was analysed using a Mediterranean Diet Score. In the logistic regression we analysed the influence of adhering to the MD on the prevalence and severity of asthma, adjusted for the other parameters included. Greater adherence to the MD is associated with a higher risk of severe asthma (odds ratios = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21-4.22) in girls of 6-7 yr. There was no significant relationship for the other asthma categories in the population studied. The results of our study do not support a protective effect of the MD on the prevalence or severity of asthma.

Trends in hospital admissions due to asthma in north-west Spain from 1995 to 2007

PURPOSE

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Hospital admissions in the child population appear to be reducing in different populations.

METHODS

We have retrospectively analysed admissions into hospitals in our region due to asthma in a 0 to 14 years population, between the years 1995 and 2007. The age, sex, date of admission, and length of hospital stay of each patient was recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 9106 admissions (64% males) have been included. A gradual trend towards a reduction in admissions is observed during the period analysed. There were more admissions in 1996, with 2.91 per thousand inhabitants, gradually reducing to 1.33 per thousand in 2007. There were more admissions in May and between September and December, being less frequent in July and August. The mean stay in this period was 4.18 days, which was stable during the whole period of the study. Older children tended to have a longer hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that admissions due to childhood asthma tend to be decreasing, particularly due to younger males, with no change in the length of hospital stay. Asthma exacerbations seemed to be associated with infections and exposure to allergens.