Growth monitoring to detect children with cystic fibrosis.

Background/aims: Cystic fibrosis (CF) in infancy and childhood is often associated with failure to thrive (FTT). This would suggest that in countries without a newborn screening program for CF, FTT could be used as a clinical screening tool. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic performance of FTT for identifying children with CF.

Using EQ-5D in children with asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders.

Objectives: This study explores several variables of the EQ-5D child version, a multi-attribute utility instrument, in children with chronic conditions.

Methods: A convenience sample was selected from hospital outpatient records and school records. The sample included children aged 7-18 years with the following chronic conditions: asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders.

Prenatal arachidonic acid exposure and selected immune-related variables in childhood.

Arachidonic acid (AA) is considered essential in fetal development and some of its metabolites are thought to be important mediators of the immune responses. Therefore, we studied whether prenatal exposure to AA is associated with some immune-related clinical conditions and plasma markers in childhood. In 280 children aged 7 years, atopy, lung function and plasma inflammation markers were measured and their relationships with early AA exposure were studied by linear and logistic regression analyses.

The effectiveness of nurse-led telemonitoring of asthma: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on, and the relationship between, asthma symptoms, asthma-specific quality of life and medical consumption of a nurse-led telemonitoring intervention compared with regular care in asthma in the Netherlands.

Methods: One hundred and nine asthmatic outpatients (56 children; 53 adults) were randomly assigned to the treatment arms (12-month follow-up). The control group received regular outpatient care, while the intervention group used an asthma monitor with modem at home with an asthma nurse as the main caregiver.

Process evaluation of a nurse-led telemonitoring programme for patients with asthma.

We performed a process evaluation of a nurse-led telemonitoring programme for patients with asthma. The indicators used to evaluate the programme were feasibility, consistency of peak expiratory flow (PEF) tests, compliance and patient satisfaction. Patients in the intervention group received a home monitor in which spirometry results and symptoms could be recorded.

Cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led telemonitoring intervention based on peak expiratory flow measurements in asthmatics: results of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which recurrent asthma symptoms create a substantial burden to individuals and their families. At the same time the economic burden associated with asthma is considerable.

Methods: The cost-effectiveness study was part of a single centre prospective randomised controlled trial comparing a nurse-led telemonitoring programme to usual care in a population of asthmatic outpatients.

Cost-effectiveness of self-management in asthma: a systematic review of peak flow monitoring interventions.

Objectives: It is generally accepted that home peak flow monitoring increases patients' self-management and could lead to cost savings. The aim of this review was to analyze costs and the cost-effectiveness of self-management based on peak flow monitoring interventions in asthma.

Methods: Twenty-one studies were included in this review.