The cost of persistent asthma in Europe: an international population-based study in adults.

Background: This study is aimed at providing a real-world evaluation of the economic cost of persistent asthma among European adults according to the degree of disease control [as defined by the 2006 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines].

Methods: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness study was carried out on 462 patients aged 30-54 years with persistent asthma (according to the 2002 GINA definition), who were identified in general population samples from 11 European countries and examined in clinical settings in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II between 1999 and 2002. The cost estimates were computed from the societal perspective following the bottom-up approach on the basis of rates, wages and prices in 2004 (obtained at the national level from official sources), and were then converted to the 2010 values.

Sensitization to contact allergens and bronchial hyper-responsiveness.

Background: Exposure to contact allergens and specific allergic sensitization to them are common, but possible related health effects have been rarely studied.

Objectives: We aimed to analyse possible associations between contact sensitization to nickel sulfate and fragrance mix I and lung function parameters or bronchial hyper-responsiveness.

Methods: Within a population-based study in Augsburg, 1052 adults performed lung function tests, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC) and bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR).

General and health-related life satisfaction of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

When assessing the quality of care, patients' characteristics such as general and health-related life satisfaction, are of major significance. Our study examined the general and health-related life satisfaction of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). To quantify the general and health-related life satisfaction, we used the validated instrument Questions on Life Satisfaction(Modules) by Henrich and Herschbach.

A prospective study on the association between hay fever among children and incidence of asthma in East Germany.

Background: Aim of this study was to examine the effect of hay fever in childhood for asthma onset from childhood to adulthood in a prospective cohort of 3,199 asthma-free children, initially aged 5-13 years, which were followed for up to 12 years in East-Germany.

Methods: Crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) of asthma onset due to hay fever at baseline were calculated by a generalized estimation equation approach accounting for person years at risk, age at study entry, parental asthma, and gender.

Results: Overall 142 incident cases of asthma were observed.

Health risks of early swimming pool attendance.

Swimming pool attendance and exposure to chlorination by-products showed adverse health effects on children. We assessed whether early swimming pool attendance, especially baby swimming, is related to higher rates of early infections and to the development of allergic diseases. In 2003-2005, 2192 children were analysed for the 6-year follow-up of a prospective birth cohort study.

Determinants of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Unlabelled: Despite strong recommendations, immunization rates for influenza and pneumococci are low. We aimed to analyse the vaccination status and its determinants in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Methods: Information about actual influenza (IV) and pneumococcal (PV) vaccination status was obtained by a standardised questionnaire from 2491 patients presenting to a specialised centre of respiratory medicine in Rotenburg/Wuemme (Germany).