Asthma and allergy in Albania

Priftanji, Alfred; Qirko, Etleva; Layzell, J.; Burr, Michael Leslie; Fifield, R.

doi:10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00108.x

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Furthermore, the ECRHS is unique in showing that the wide geographical differences in atopy are not accounted for by methodological factors such as the skin testing technique, the type of assay for the specific IgE, the type of measurement, the type of allergens or the allergenic extracts manufacturer. The ECRHS has also enabled researchers to compare prevalence data of the ECRHS with that of other regions such as in Turkey and Albania using the ECRHS protocol [99][100][101].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far?

et al. 2001

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The European Community Respiratory Heath Survey (ECRHS) was the first study to assess the geographical variation in asthma and allergy in adults using the same instruments and definitions. The database of the ECRHS includes information fromy140,000 individuals from 22 countries. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of the ECRHS to date.The ECRHS has shown that there are large geographical differences in the prevalence of asthma, atopy and bronchial responsiveness, with high prevalence rates in English speaking countries and low prevalence rates in the Mediterranean region and Eastern Europe. Analyses of risk factors have highlighted the importance of occupational exposure for asthma in adulthood. The association between sensitization to individual allergens and bronchial responsiveness was strongest for indoor allergens (mite and cat). Analysis of treatment practices has confirmed that the treatment of asthma varies widely between countries and that asthma is often undertreated.In conclusion, the European Community Respiratory Health Survey has shown that the prevalence of asthma varies widely. The fact that the geographical pattern is consistent with the distribution of atopy and bronchial responsiveness supports the conclusion that the geographical variations in the prevalence of asthma are true and most likely due to environmental factors. Eur Respir J 2001; 18: 598-611. During the first half of the 1990s, information on the variation in asthma prevalence, known or suspected risk factors for atopy and asthma, and information on the management of asthma in young adults was collected in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).The reason for undertaking the ECRHS was a rapid increase in the prevalence of asthma that had been reported from many different countries [1][2][3][4]. This increase was over too short a time period to be explained by genetic factors and must therefore have been related to nongenetic or environmental changes. Further evidence of the importance of environmental factors in asthma was that studies comparing prevalence in urban and rural areas in developing countries had shown large differences in asthma prevalence [5][6][7]. Treatment patterns of asthma [8] and asthma mortality [9] had been found to vary considerably in Europe which raised the question of whether the variation in mortality was due to geographical differences in the prevalence of asthma or differences in asthma fatality. Research directed towards identifying the environmental factors that explain this geographical variation in asthma was required to identify potential strategies to counter the global increase in the prevalence of asthma.The information available on the variation in the prevalence of asthma and allergy at the beginning of the 1990s had been collected through several studies using different protocols. The ECRHS was, therefore, the first study that assessed the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in a large number of countries

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far?

et al. 2001

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“…1 2 However, relatively few such studies have been carried out in developing countries. Recent examples include reports from India, 3 Algeria, 1 Albania, 4 China, 5 and Turkey. 6 More such investigations are needed, especially as disparate patterns of urbanisation, infectious disease burden, and medical care may result in risk factor profiles, competing causes of ill health, and types of wheezing illness different from those of developed countries.…”

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confidence: 99%

Wheeze, asthma diagnosis and medication use: a national adult survey in a developing country

Ehrlich

2005

Thorax

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Background: As relatively little is known about adult wheeze and asthma in developing countries, this study aimed to determine the predictors of wheeze, asthma diagnosis, and current treatment in a national survey of South African adults. Methods: A stratified national probability sample of households was drawn and all adults (.14 years) in the selected households were interviewed. Outcomes of interest were recent wheeze, asthma diagnosis, and current use of asthma medication. Predictors of interest were sex, age, household asset index, education, racial group, urban residence, medical insurance, domestic exposure to smoky fuels, occupational exposure, smoking, body mass index, and past tuberculosis. Results: A total of 5671 men and 8155 women were studied. Although recent wheeze was reported by 14.4% of men and 17.6% of women and asthma diagnosis by 3.7% of men and 3.8% of women, women were less likely than men to be on current treatment (OR 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5 to 0.8). A history of tuberculosis was an independent predictor of both recent wheeze (OR 3.4; 95% CI 2.5 to 4.7) and asthma diagnosis (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5 to 3.2), as was occupational exposure (wheeze: OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.5 to 2.0; asthma diagnosis: OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.4). Smoking was associated with wheeze but not asthma diagnosis. Obesity showed an association with wheeze only in younger women. Both wheeze and asthma diagnosis were more prevalent in those with less education but had no association with the asset index. Independently, having medical insurance was associated with a higher prevalence of diagnosis. Conclusions: Some of the findings may be to due to reporting bias and heterogeneity of the categories wheeze and asthma diagnosis, which may overlap with post tuberculous airways obstruction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to smoking and occupational exposures. The results underline the importance of controlling tuberculosis and occupational exposures as well as smoking in reducing chronic respiratory morbidity. Validation of the asthma questionnaire in this setting and research into the pathophysiology of post tuberculous airways obstruction are also needed.

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“…Serum allergenspecific IgE and total IgE were measured in a survey of adults in Albania. 5 Detection of allergen-specific IgE was done using a United Kingdom (UK) panel, as indicated by the manufacturer. A subsample (results not reported in this paper) of those who had elevated allergen-specific IgE was tested against a Turkish panel, which was newly produced by the manufacturer.…”

Section: Laboratory Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 The remarkable increase in allergic diseases, especially in the last few decades, has been established. 4,5 However, no clear explanation of the causes of such an increase is available. One of the explanations suggested for this increase is a general change in the "microbial load."…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…4 Westernization or adoption of a western life style has also been suggested as a factor that may have influenced this increase. 5 Various genetic and environmental factors were also suggested as contributing factors to allergic disorders. These factors include up-regulation of genes controlling interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression and abnormalities of regulatory mechanisms of Th2 cell development; the reduction of infectious diseases due to increasing vaccinations, antimicrobial treatments, and changing life style were important in influencing the individual outcome in Th cell response to ubiquitous allergens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prevalence of Reported Allergy and Levels of Total and Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E among Palestinian Schoolchildren in East Jerusalem

Husseini¹,

Abdullatif²,

Kamal³

et al. 2006

Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology

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The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of reported allergy and concentration of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) among school children in East Jerusalem. A cross-sectional sample survey of Palestinian schoolchildren in East Jerusalem was conducted. Questionnaires were completed by parents of children in nonboarding schools and supervisors in boarding schools. Blood samples were obtained to measure total and allergen-specific IgE concentrations. The prevalence of current reported allergy among school children was 12.3%. The mean age of students participating in the study was 9.5 years.Twenty eight percent of the tested children had a total IgE of 120 IU/mL and above. Allergen-specific IgE antibodies were highest against dust mite and dog in panel 1 (respiratory allergens), whereas casein and milk scored highest in panel 2 (food allergens). The reported allergy is prevalent among Palestinian schoolchildren. Serious efforts should be directed toward allergy prevention. (Pediatr Asthma Allergy Immunol 2006; 19[3]:154-161).

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Asthma and allergy in Albania

Cited by 12 publications

References 18 publications

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far?

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far?

Wheeze, asthma diagnosis and medication use: a national adult survey in a developing country

Prevalence of Reported Allergy and Levels of Total and Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E among Palestinian Schoolchildren in East Jerusalem

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