The effect of passive smoking on respiratory health in children and adults.

Passive smoking, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), has been found to be causally associated with a large number of diseases in various organs although the evidence is sometimes conflicting. This review summarises the effects of passive smoking on respiratory symptoms, lung function and asthma in children and adults. In children, prenatal exposure to ETS is associated with impaired lung function and increased risk of developing asthma, while postnatal exposure mainly acts as a trigger factor for respiratory symptoms and asthma attacks. In adults, ETS exposure is associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, a small but significant impairment of lung function and increased bronchial responsiveness. The consequence of workplace exposure seems to be more serious than domestic exposure. Legislative measures banning smoking at work have positive health effects in non-smokers and increase the quitting rate in smokers. Measures aimed at reducing childhood exposure to ETS should have high priority. Smoke cessation programmes for pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and for parents at the time of child hospitalisation for respiratory illness seem to have a fairly high success rate. Passive smoking is a widespread, important and avoidable risk factor for respiratory symptoms in both children and adults. Reducing passive smoking in the community will have a large positive effect on respiratory health.     

Consequences of occupational asthma

Seventy-nine patients attending hospital for follow-up of occupational asthma were interviewed, on average 6 years after asthma developed. Although 90% thought their symptoms had improved, 10% had required a hospital admission (apart from for investigation), 72% still took medication and most reported symptoms in the last 3 months. One-third were currently unemployed and 40-73% reported limitation in everyday activities, such as housework or shopping. Symptoms on waking were used as an index of troublesome asthma. Those 31 in whom this occurred at least once a week reported limitation in everyday activities significantly more commonly than others. This relation was more marked in men than women. Limitation in everyday activities was, however, more frequently reported by women than men, who were also more likely than men to be unemployed, suggesting that factors other than impairment of function also contribute to handicap in occupational asthma.     

A randomized trial of a self-regulation intervention for women with asthma

BACKGROUND: Women with asthma have greater mortality and morbidity than men in the United States. To date, there has been no rigorous evaluation of an intervention focused on the particular problems in asthma management faced by women. This study was a randomized clinical trial of a self-regulation, telephone counseling intervention emphasizing women's concerns, and sex and gender role factors in their management of asthma. METHODS: A total of 808 women with diagnosed asthma were randomly assigned to the intervention group or a usual-care control group, including conventional asthma education. Interviews and medical record data were collected to assess psychosocial factors, and the behavioral factors of functioning, quality of life, symptoms, and health-care use at baseline and the subsequent 1 year. Generalized estimating equations, identity link, logit link, and log link were employed to analyze the data. RESULTS: Compared to control subjects, the women receiving treatment had greater annual reductions in the average number of nights with asthma symptoms (p = 0.04), days of missed work/school (p = 0.03), emergency department visits (p = 0.04), unscheduled office visits (p = 0.01), and scheduled office visits (p = 0.04). They had greater recognition of asthma symptoms during the menstrual cycle (p = 0.0003), had decreased asthma symptoms with sexual activity (p = 0.008), and had greater improvement in quality of life (p = 0.0005), self-regulation (p = 0.03), and self-confidence to manage asthma (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention improved women's clinical status, functioning, quality of life, and health-care use. A program with a focus on asthma management problems particular to women can significantly assist female asthma patients.     

围月经期哮喘诊治进展

一些支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)妇女在月经前或月经期哮喘症状可以加重,称之为月经前期哮喘或月经期哮喘,统称为围月经期哮喘.围月经期哮喘相当常见,大约占哮喘妇女的30%～40%.雌二醇、孕酮、阿司匹林、白三烯可能与其发病有关.根据月经前或月经期哮喘症状加重和呼气峰流速降低可以做出诊断.雌二醇、孕酮、白三烯调节剂可以用于围月经期哮喘的治疗.     

妊娠期支气管哮喘治疗进展

临床研究已证明妊娠期重度及控制不佳的支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)与母亲及胎儿严重并发症相关.对于妊娠期哮喘患者,接受药物治疗比存在哮喘症状和哮喘发作更安全.所有程度的持续妊娠哮喘患者都应当应用吸入糖皮质激素作为控制药物,首选布地奈德.白三烯受体拮抗剂可以缓解支气管痉挛、减轻症状、改善肺功能.长效β2受体激动剂对于正在应用吸入糖皮质激素的患者可作为首选的添加药物.吸入短效β2受体激动剂可以作为缓解药物.对于正在接受维持量或接近维持量治疗,无不良反应、临床疗效好的妊娠哮喘患者可以继续进行变应原免疫治疗.     

Gender differences in health-related quality of life among patients with asthma.

This study has a twofold objective: 1) to explore to what extent suffering from asthma affects the HRQL of men and women differently at several stages of disease severity and 2) to analyze whether the informed poorer HRQL of asthmatic women is related to their higher scores on instruments measuring emotionally disordered symptoms. One hundred fifty-one outpatient asthmatics (84 women and 67 men) completed the Spanish versions of the Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire (AQL), as well as anxiety and depression inventories. A full history, physical examination, and pulmonary function test were performed on all subjects. Patients were classified into one of four asthma severity categories following the criteria of the Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA). There were no gender differences in sociodemographic variables, asthma duration, GINA, FEV1 or dyspnea. However, women showed a poorer HRQL than men, as well as high degrees of anxiety and depression. When these data were reanalyzed taking into account the four groups of asthma severity, women only reported a poorer HRQL than men at the intermittent asthma level. The gender differences on depression and anxiety scores were maintained at the three lower severity levels, but not at the most severe asthma degree. When depression and anxiety scores were partialed out, the AQL scores maintained significant relationships with asthma severity, dyspnea, and FEV1, both in women and men. Therefore, only in men were there also relationships among AQL and sociodemographic data. The best predictor of the women's HRQL was the dyspnea score, whereas in men it was the asthma severity (GINA).     

Melatonin improves sleep in asthma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Disturbed sleep is common in asthma. Melatonin has sleep-inducing activity and reportedly affects smooth muscle tone and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on sleep in patients with mild and moderate asthma. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Twenty-two consecutive women with asthma were randomized to receive melatonin 3 mg (n = 12) or placebo (n = 10) for 4 weeks. Sleep quality and daytime somnolence were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, respectively. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry. Use of relief medication, asthma symptoms, and morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate were recorded daily. Melatonin treatment significantly improved subjective sleep quality, as compared with placebo (p = 0.04). No significant difference in asthma symptoms, use of relief medication and daily peak expiratory flow rate was found between groups. We conclude that melatonin can improve sleep in patients with asthma. Further studies looking into long-term effects of melatonin on airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are needed before melatonin can be recommended in patients with asthma.     

The relationship between asthma symptoms and anthropometric markers of overweight in a Hispanic population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have revealed the relationship between asthma and obesity, but the relationship with other markers of overweight and obesity has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between asthma symptoms and simple anthropometric indexes (BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) as markers of overweight in an adult Hispanic population. METHODS: The data were obtained from the PRIT (Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risks in General Hospital Workers) 2001 survey. The participants were workers at the Hospital General de México in Mexico City and included 135 men and 398 women aged 43.8 +/- 11.9 and 43.0 +/- 10.5, respectively. Odds ratios for asthma symptoms at different BMI, WC, and WHR cutoff points associated with excessive weight were calculated. The likelihood ratios for having asthma symptoms in participants with various cutoff values of BMI, WC, and WHR also were calculated. RESULTS: Asthma symptoms were not related to anthropometric markers of overweight or obesity in men, while they were associated in women with WC cutoff levels of 80 and 85 cm, and BMI of 25 and 27 kg/m2. No level of WHR was related to asthma symptoms in women. In women, the likelihood ratio for asthma symptoms increased proportionally from WC levels of 73.5 cm up to 86 cm, while this risk increased significantly from BMI levels of 22 up to 29 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: Overweight as assessed by BMI and WC (but not WHR) was related to asthma symptoms in women in the studied population.     

Differences between men and women in reporting of symptoms during an asthma exacerbation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Compared with men, women presenting to the emergency department with acute asthma are more likely to be admitted and to have a longer hospital stay. This study compares peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) with reported symptom severity between men and women with acute asthma. The null hypothesis was that men and women report similar severity symptoms for similar levels of airway obstruction. METHODS: This study combined data from 4 prospective cohort studies performed from 1996 to 1998 as part of the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration. Using a standardized protocol, investigators at 64 EDs in 21 US states and 4 Canadian provinces provided 24-hour per day coverage for a median of 2 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 1,291 patients with moderate to severe exacerbations (initial percentage of predicted PEFR <80%), 62% were women. Women were more likely than men to report "severe" complaints in terms of symptom frequency, symptom intensity, and resulting activity limitations (all P <.05). Women with moderate exacerbations were especially likely to describe their exacerbation as causing "severe" activity limitations (sex-PEFR interaction, P =.05). CONCLUSION: Men are less likely than women to report severe asthma symptoms and activity limitations in the presence of airway obstruction. This finding supports use of objective measures of airway obstruction when managing patients with asthma so that those whose symptoms do not reflect the severity of their obstruction can be recognized and properly treated. It also reconfirms the need for increased research on differences between men and women in acute asthma.     

Gender Differences in Health‐Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Asthma

This study has a twofold objective: 1) to explore to what extent suffering from asthma affects the HRQL of men and women differently at several stages of disease severity and 2) to analyze whether the informed poorer HRQL of asthmatic women is related to their higher scores on instruments measuring emotionally disordered symptoms. One hundred fifty‐one outpatient asthmatics (84 women and 67 men) completed the Spanish versions of the Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire (AQL), as well as anxiety and depression inventories. A full history, physical examination, and pulmonary function test were performed on all subjects. Patients were classified into one of four asthma severity categories following the criteria of the Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA). There were no gender differences in sociodemographic variables, asthma duration, GINA, FEV₁ or dyspnea. However, women showed a poorer HRQL than men, as well as high degrees of anxiety and depression. When these data were reanalyzed taking into account the four groups of asthma severity, women only reported a poorer HRQL than men at the intermittent asthma level. The gender differences on depression and anxiety scores were maintained at the three lower severity levels, but not at the most severe asthma degree. When depression and anxiety scores were partialed out, the AQL scores maintained significant relationships with asthma severity, dyspnea, and FEV₁, both in women and men. Therefore, only in men were there also relationships among AQL and sociodemographic data. The best predictor of the women's HRQL was the dyspnea score, whereas in men it was the asthma severity (GINA).     

Gastroesophageal Reflux and Asthma: Are They Related?

The relationship between asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is controversial. This paper reviews the evidence for an association between them, the effect of asthma on GER, and the effects of GER and antireflux therapy on asthma. The association between the two conditions seems firm but studies of the effects of GER on asthma and asthma on GER are contradictory. Critical review suggests that GER affects asthma symptoms but not pulmonary function. Antireflux therapy improves asthma symptoms and reduces medication requirements but does not improve pulmonary function. The paradox of GER causing asthma symptoms but not changing pulmonary function may be explained by its increasing minute ventilation rather than triggering bronchospasm.     

Relations between respiratory symptoms and spirometric values in young adults: the European community respiratory health study

We aim to assess whether respiratory symptoms are associated with lung function in young adults, and whether any such relation is similar in those with asthma, in men and women, and in different countries. Study participants (aged 20-44 years) were randomly selected from the general population in 35 centres in 15 countries as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Study. In all, 12,541 subjects (47%) completed a respiratory symptoms questionnaire and spirometry, metacholine challenge and immunoglobulin E tests. Indicators of diagnosed asthma showed the largest association with airways obstruction (FEV1--maximal 1-s forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity--FVC < 70%), followed by symptoms of wheezing or shortness of breath, in both genders. Among the 96% of subjects whose FEV1/FVC ratios were greater or equal to 70%, wheezing or shortness of breath was associated with lower FEV1 levels (-211 ml in men and -169 ml in women (P < 0.01)), independent of diagnosed asthma, smoking, atopy or bronchial responsiveness. This association was not explained by a lower FVC. Symptoms of chronic bronchial mucus hypersecretion (chronic phlegm) were unrelated to both airways obstruction and FEV1 levels. Findings were homogeneous across all centres. These results suggest that lung diseases that cause wheezing are generally associated with impaired lung function.     

Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Asthma

A high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GER) in asthma patients has been shown in several reports from North America and Europe. However, no data from Southern Europe are available. This paper evaluates the prevalence of abnormal reflux in asthmatics, the pattern of acid reflux when present, and the relationship between asthma and GER. Eighty-one consecutive ambulatory patients with clinically stable asthma (41 women; median age 40 years, range 17-69 years) were prospectively evaluated. All patients had a thorough digestive history; baseline pulmonary function studies, including bronchoprovocation methacholine test; and ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring. Reflux symptoms were present in 40 patients (49%). Twelve patients had abnormal GER as defined by pH testing, giving a prevalence rate of 15% (95% confidence interval 8%-24%). The presence of acid reflux was not associated with a more severe respiratory disease.

Abnormal GER seems not to be a clinically significant problem in many patients with asthma in our area.     

Asthma severity is associated with body mass index and early menarche in women

Asthma severity in relation to body mass index (BMI) has rarely been studied. The relation between BMI and asthma severity was studied by sex in 366 adults with asthma from the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma, a case-control and family study on asthma. Factors related to asthma severity and BMI such as smoking, FEV(1), bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and dyspnea were taken into account. The influence of early menarche was studied to assess the potential role of hormonal factors. Clinical asthma severity in the last 12 months was assessed by a score (0-7) based on the frequency of asthma attacks, persisting symptoms between attacks, and hospitalization. Asthma severity, which was unrelated to sex, increased with BMI in women (p = 0.0001) but not in men (p = 0.3). In women, the association remained after adjustment for age, FEV(1), smoking habits, and BMI-adjusted dyspnea and taking into account familial dependence (p = 0.0001). The association between BMI and severity was stronger in women with early menarche than in women without early menarche (p interaction = 0.02). Findings support the hypothesis of hormonal factors involved in the severity of asthma.     

Occupational asthma secondary to enzymes used in cheese production

Occupational asthma (OA) accounts for 5-10% of all asthma in adults. Although OA secondary to enzymes has been reported, it is rare in the context of food preparation. In the cheese production industry, multiple powdered enzymes are used to soften and flavor cheese. Work-related asthma secondary to enzymes used in this manner has not been previously reported. We present two cases of OA after exposure to airborne enzyme powders used in cheese production. Both patients were adult women without histories of asthma who worked in a facility that used fungal and pancreatic-based enzymes to soften and flavor cheese. Both developed asthma symptoms within 1 year of employment and experienced relief of symptoms away from work. One patient had occupational rhinitis. Each underwent allergy skin testing, chest radiograph, pulmonary function testing, and methacholine challenge. Both patients had markedly positive skin tests to multiple enzyme antigens used at work. Spirometry, lung volumes, and chest radiographs were normal for both patients when they were asymptomatic and had implemented avoidance measures. Methacholine challenge was positive in one patient (PC(20) = 0.13 mg/mL). Both workers took appropriate respiratory protection measures during powder exposure and their symptoms improved. Enzyme powder used in cheese production is a trigger for OA.     

Effect of tobacco smoking, respiratory symptoms and asthma on spirometry among adults attending a check-up clinic in Mexico City

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tobacco smoking, respiratory symptoms, and asthma on lung function among Mexican adults who were evaluated during a medical exam in a private health clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Reference prediction equations were generated for spirometry parameters [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC] based on multiple linear regression models. The effect of tobacco smoking, respiratory symptoms and asthma on these equations were explored. RESULTS: Spirometry tests were performed on 919 subjects from 14 to 86 years of age.Asthma decreased FVC and FEV1 in men with a R2 change <1%. Respiratory symptoms decreased the FEV1/FVC ratio in both sexes.Tobacco smoking was associated with a significant reduction in FEV in women. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma lightly reduced lung function in males while tobacco smoking decreased FEV, particularly in females.     

Comprehensive Asthma Management: Guidelines for Clinicians

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction and nonspecific airway hyperreactivity. Asthma is managed in steps according to disease symptoms and severity. Treatment goals are to decrease symptoms, improve pulmonary function, and reduce overall morbidity and the associated cost of medical care. Antiasthma drugs are a key component of asthma management that are classified as either long-term-control medications that control symptoms and prevent disease exacerbations, or quick-relief medications that rapidly relieve airway obstruction and acute asthma symptoms. Several new leukotriene (LT) modulators have been developed that promise to improve asthma control, including LT receptor antagonists montelukast and zafirlukast and the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton. Each decreases symptoms and the use of rescue medication, and improves pulmonary function in patients with mild intermittent to moderate persistent asthma.     

The effects of antireflux surgery on asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND: Antireflux therapy, including surgery, has been advocated for asthma patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). A recent review of medical antireflux therapy reported improvements in asthma symptoms and medication requirements but no improvement in pulmonary function. The purpose of this article is to review the available literature on the effects of antireflux surgery in asthma. METHOD: Using the Medline 1966 to August 1998 database, lung disease, asthma, and pulmonary function were combined with GER and different antireflux surgeries, including fundoplication. Reference lists of identified articles were also reviewed. RESULTS: Combining the terms asthma and GER identified 271 articles, including 193 in English. Searching the term fundoplication identified 497 articles, including 413 in English. Twenty-four reports addressed the effects of antireflux surgery in asthma. Only two studies were controlled. Asthmatic data could not be distinguished from that of other subjects in five articles. The remainder were case series, retrospective reviews, or uncontrolled studies. Ten reports included data on < or = 10 patients. Two studies were only published as abstracts. A total of 417 asthma patients were included in the identified reports. Antireflux surgery improved GER symptoms, asthma symptoms, asthma medication use, and pulmonary function in 90%, 79%, 88%, and 27%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antireflux surgery may improve GER and asthma symptoms and decrease medication requirements, but it has little effect on pulmonary function. The effects of antireflux surgery on asthma are similar to those of medical antireflux therapy.     

Revisiting asthma control: How should it best be defined?

Management guidelines for asthma emphasize a stepwise approach in treating this disease based on daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, and lung function assessed by peak expiratory flow or forced expiratory volume at 1s (FEV(1)). Although improvement of lung function is a key goal in managing asthma, clinicians often see patients who may have achieved a normal FEV(1) with guideline-recommended treatment but continue to experience limitations in their daily activities. In such situations, focusing the assessment solely on pulmonary function (e.g. FEV(1)) is often inadequate and may lead to undertreatment. Alternate assessment measures are therefore often needed to assess asthma control and achieve a successful treatment outcome. This review will provide practical guidance relevant to the clinical assessment of asthma control.     

The metabolomics of asthma: novel diagnostic potential

Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses, especially in children. Reaching the diagnosis of asthma and its management are more difficult than for other chronic illnesses. For example, asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome with many clinical classifications based on patient symptoms, lung function, and response to therapy. The symptoms and objective measurements of lung function, often used to guide therapy, are largely based on the inflammation of the airways. Because measuring airway dysfunction and inflammation in a typical clinical setting is difficult, it is often not done. Metabolomics is the study of small molecules generated from cellular metabolic activity. It is possible that the metabolic profile of a patient with a chronic illness such as asthma is different from that of a healthy patient or from a patient with another respiratory illness. Furthermore, if this metabolome could be measured, it might also vary with disease severity. The pattern of metabolites becomes the diagnostic representing the disease. This article outlines the more recent work that has been done to develop the metabolomic profile of asthma.