Does an asthma education program improve quality of life? A two-year randomized trial.

Asthma education programs result in clinical improvement. However, most studies involved programs of up to 1 year of follow-up, and their efficacy in improving quality of life (QoL) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a program of patient education in asthmatics over 2 years.

[Occupational asthma: role of airway inflammation and remodelling in persistent respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyper-responsiveness].

Background: Until the late 1970's occupational asthma (OA) was considered reversible once patients were removed from exposure. Unfortunately, respiratory symptoms and non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness (NSBH) persist in about two-thirds of patients for years after removal from the offending agent.

Objectives And Methods: This review focuses on the role of airways inflammation and remodelling in persistent respiratory symptoms and NSBH after cessation of occupational exposure.

Outcome of occupational asthma in patients with continuous exposure: a 3-year longitudinal study during pharmacologic treatment.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effect of treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate (500 microg bid) and salmeterol (50 microg bid) on lung function and respiratory symptoms in 20 subjects with occupational asthma (OA) still exposed to the work environment cause of their disease.

Methods: At enrollment and every 6 months for 3 years, respiratory symptom score (from 0 [no symptoms] to 2 [moderate-to-severe symptoms]), spirometry, methacholine challenge, peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability, and the use of rescue salbutamol were evaluated. During the 3 years of follow-up, 10 subjects were excluded from the study because they retired or changed jobs.