Increasing prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in three selected areas in East Germany

Frye, Christian; Heinrich, Joachim; Wichmann, H‐Erich

doi:10.1183/09031936.01.00067001

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Considering all studies done there is no consistent trend for an increase of asthma prevalence or bronchial hyperresponsiveness [36,37]. Yet the overall prevalence of asthma in adults in the current study is slightly higher than comparable samples [13].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Asthma: prevalence and cost of illness

Stock

Redaélli²,

Luengen³

et al. 2005

Eur Respir J

110

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The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and cost of illness of asthma in Germany by retrospectively analysing routine health insurance data.This analysis investigated claims data from all insured persons of six large sickness funds. Insurants with asthma were identified via the International Classification of Diseases (ninth revision) diagnosis and the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System Code for regular medication prescriptions. Costs for hospital care, medication and sick benefit were taken from claims data. Costs for rehabilitation, premature death and early retirement were estimated using the human capital approach and data from national statistics.Prevalence of asthma in the German statutory health insurance was 6.34%. Total costs for asthma, including direct and indirect costs, were calculated at J2.74 billion during 1999.The prevalence of asthma in the German statutory health insurance has previously been estimated to be 4-6%. The results of this large study show the prevalence of asthma in the German social insurance system to be ,6%. The study also indicates that there is room for substantial savings in the German social insurance system, with indirect costs amounting to 74.8% of total costs and payment of sick benefits through the sickness funds amounting to 58.3% of indirect costs. These costs may be reduced with better asthma control in patients.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Asthma: prevalence and cost of illness

Stock

Redaélli²,

Luengen³

et al. 2005

Eur Respir J

110

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“…The results of these three studies consistently showed increasing prevalence for hay fever, atopic eczema and asthma, although not for asthma in the Leipzig study [19][20][21]. The increasing prevalence of asthma was supported by findings of the Bitterfeld Study [22], which found an increasing prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Despite a certain heterogeneity of the results on temporal changes of allergic sensitization (table 4), the two studies showed consistently an increase in prevalence of allergic sensitization to birch pollen and house dust mites, whereas no [17,18] or even decreasing [22] tendencies were reported for grass pollen.…”

Section: Comparison With Other Studiessupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The increasing prevalence of asthma was supported by findings of the Bitterfeld Study [22], which found an increasing prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Despite a certain heterogeneity of the results on temporal changes of allergic sensitization (table 4), the two studies showed consistently an increase in prevalence of allergic sensitization to birch pollen and house dust mites, whereas no [17,18] or even decreasing [22] tendencies were reported for grass pollen. Furthermore, both studies found a consistent increase of prevalence of strong allergic sensitization.…”

Section: Comparison With Other Studiesmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…allergic status between children of the three study areas. These differences are described in detail elsewhere [22]. However, the direction and magnitude of the changes in each area were similar (data not shown), and when interaction term with study area was included in the multiple logistic regression model, comparable trends were found for each study location.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 74%

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Trends in prevalence of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization in children in Eastern Germany

Heinrich¹,

Hoelscher²,

Frye³

et al. 2002

Eur Respir J

Self Cite

122

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Trends in prevalence of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization in children from Eastern Germany during the 1990s were analysed.The study consisted of three regional cross-sectional surveys of a total of 7,632 children (aged 5-14 yrs) in 1992-1993, 1995-1996, and 1998-1999. Information was gathered on atopic diseases and potential predictors by a parental questionnaire. Allergic sensitization for birch, grass, mite, cat, and cladosporium were assessed by radioallergosorbent test (RAST).After adjustment for age, sex and the study area of the participants, prevalence increased between the first and third survey for hay fever, for asthma and for atopic eczema. The adjusted prevalence of allergic sensitization (RASTw0.35 kU?L -1 ) showed a decrease, whereas the prevalence of strong sensitization (RAST o17.5 kU?L -1 ) increased significantly, specifically in cohorts born after 1989. Further adjustment for possible determinants of these atopic diseases did not change the trend estimates.A clear increase in the prevalence of atopic diseases, with the exception of hay fever, was observed as well as a shift towards a stronger allergic sensitization, which might affect the onset of clinical manifestations of atopic diseases.Differences in the epidemiology of respiratory symptoms, illnesses and allergies between populations living in the former East Germany and those living in the former West Germany have been reported. Among East German children, lower prevalence rates of asthma, and positive skin-prick tests were observed compared to West German children in the early 1990s [1][2][3][4][5]. Similarly, among East German adults, lower specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels and lower prevalence rates of asthma, wheezing, positive methacholine-challenge tests, allergic rhinitis, and positive skin-prick tests have been reported compared to those of West German adults [6,7].

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“…Methods of pulmonary function measurements are described elsewhere (Frye et al 2001;Wjst et al 1998). Briefly, technicians were trained thoroughly at the beginning of each survey.…”

Section: Ambient Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of lung function with declining ambient air pollution.

Frye¹,

Hoelscher²,

Cyrys³

et al. 2003

Environ Health Perspect

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Recent studies have found a declining prevalence of respiratory infections in East German children, along with a tremendous improvement of air pollution since 1990. The present study evaluates the effects of improved air quality on lung function. Three consecutive cross-sectional surveys of schoolchildren ages 11-14 years from three communities in East Germany were performed in 1992-1993, 1995-1996, and 1998-1999. Lung function tests were available from 2,493 children. The annual mean of total suspended particulates (TSP) declined from 79 to 25 micro g/m(3), whereas levels for sulfur dioxide declined from 113 to 6 micro g/m(3). Mean forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)) of the children increased from 1992-1993 to 1998-1999. The adjusted percent change of the geometric mean of FVC was 4.7% for a 50 micro g/m(3) decrease of TSP (p = 0.043) and 4.9% for a decrement of 100 micro g/m(3) SO(2) (p = 0.029). Effects on FEV(1) were smaller and not statistically significant. Our study indicates that a reduction of air pollution in a short time period may improve children's lung function.

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Increasing prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in three selected areas in East Germany

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

Asthma: prevalence and cost of illness

Asthma: prevalence and cost of illness

Trends in prevalence of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization in children in Eastern Germany

Association of lung function with declining ambient air pollution.

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