Multidisciplinary Consensus on the Nonadherence to Clinical Management of Inhaled Therapy in Spanish asthma patients.

Purpose: Rates of nonadherence to asthma treatment in Spain are between 24% and 76%, which results in poor disease control and increased health care costs. The main objective of this multidisciplinary consensus was to investigate the opinions of health professionals and patients regarding adherence to inhaled therapy in Spain. The results will help to identify the causes of nonadherence and to establish strategies to detect and correct the problem.

Clinical trial on the efficacy of exhaled carbon monoxide measurement in smoking cessation in primary health care.

Background: Smoking cessation is beneficial for our health at any point in life, both in healthy people and in people already suffering from a smoking-related disease. Any help to quit smoking can produce considerable benefits for Public Health. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of the CO-oximetry technique together with brief advice in smoking cessation, in terms of reduction of the number of cigarettes or in the variation of the motivation to quit smoking at month 12 compared with brief advice alone.

Set-up and pilot of a population cohort for the study of the natural history of COPD and OSA: the PULSAIB study.

Aims: We describe the set-up of a population-based study focussed on respiratory conditions, and describe a pilot study - the PULmons SAns Illes Balears (PULSAIB) study - aimed at investigating the natural history of COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and other common chronic diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to survey two fieldwork areas, one rural and one urban, in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Tests conducted included a questionnaire, spirometry with post-bronchodilator (PBD) test, and portable respiratory polygraphy.