Does BCG vaccination protect against childhood asthma? Final results from the Manchester Community Asthma Study retrospective cohort study and updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The Manchester Community Asthma Study (MANCAS) found a protective effect against the risk of wheeze at age 6 to 11 years for children given neonatal BCG vaccination. Our subsequent systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that BCG vaccination did not protect against allergic sensitization but might have exerted a protective effect against nonatopic asthma.

Objectives: We sought to assess whether the protective effect of BCG vaccination on wheeze observed in the MANCAS cohort was maintained at age 13 to 17 years and to incorporate the findings from this final MANCAS analysis into an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms at two time points in a population of children in Manchester--a cohort study.

Objective: Although the prevalence of asthma and atopy has been noted to have increased in recent decades, patterns of asthma prevalence have, traditionally, been difficult to track. Most reports on trends in childhood asthma have been cross-sectional measuring the prevalence in cohorts of similar aged children at different time points. The aim of this paper is to report on the prevalence of symptoms in the same cohort at two separate time points.

Temporal change in health-related quality of life: a longitudinal study in general practice 1999-2004.

Background: In order to assess and plan for changing healthcare needs, the lack of available information regarding temporal changes in the health-related quality of life of a population must be addressed.

Aim: This paper aims to describe such changes over 5 years in a general population.

Design Of Study: Longitudinal postal questionnaire study.

How do common chronic conditions affect health-related quality of life?

Background: Comorbidity is common. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines have been created to make best use of resources to improve patients' quality of life but do not currently take account of comorbidity. The effect of multiple chronic conditions with regard to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poorly researched.

Factors influencing the response to postal questionnaire surveys about respiratory symptoms.

Background: Response rates to postal questionnaires have been falling in recent years.

Aim: To examine factors affecting the response to five postal respiratory questionnaire surveys.

Design: Cross sectional study.

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease, in 6-11 year olds in Manchester.

Aims: This paper describes the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease in 6-11 year old children in an historical cohort study.

Methods: The study included 5086 children, all born in the same maternity unit in the north west of England over a four-year period. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease were determined by the use of parent-completed questionnaires.

Long term prognosis in preschool children with wheeze: longitudinal postal questionnaire study 1993-2004.

Objectives: To follow a population of preschool children with and without parent reported wheeze over a period of 6-11 years to determine prognosis and its important predictive factors.

Design: Longitudinal series of five postal surveys based on the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood questionnaire carried out between 1993 and 2004.

Setting: Two general practice populations, south Manchester.

The estimated prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general practice population.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a general practice population in the UK.

Method: Four postal respiratory questionnaire surveys were carried out between 1993 and 2001. Subjects from the 2001 study were invited for spirometry if they were aged 30 years or more, had indicated that they were 'ever smokers' in any of the surveys, and/or had been considered to have likely obstructive airways disease on the basis of their replies to the 2001 questionnaire.

Is the prevalence of wheeze in children altered by neonatal BCG vaccination?

Background: The prevalence of asthma and atopic disease has increased in recent decades, but precise reasons for this increase are unknown. BCG vaccination is thought to be among a group of vaccines capable of manipulating the immune system toward T(H)1 dominance and therefore reducing the likelihood of atopic disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of neonatal BCG vaccination on the prevalence of wheeze in a large community population of children.

The diagnostic accuracies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in general practice: The results of the MAGIC (Manchester Airways Group Identifying COPD) study.

Background: Although it is generally accepted that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underdiagnosed, there is little objective information concerning the size of the problem in the UK.

Method: Patients from two general practices were offered spirometry if they were aged 30 or older, had reported ever smoking in one of four postal respiratory surveys (1993-2001), and/or reported four or more symptoms or risk factors in 2001 indicating likely obstructive airways disease.

Results: Of 2646 subjects invited, 871 attended and 825 had adequate spirometry results for analysis.

Temporal change in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and obstructive airways disease 1993-2001.

Background: There has been little available information regarding secular changes in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms since the mid-1990s.

Aim: To examine changes in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms for 1993-2001.

Design Of Study: A series of postal questionnaire surveys.