RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The European Community Respiratory Health Survey: what are the main results so far?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 598
OP 611
DO 10.1183/09031936.01.00205801
VO 18
IS 3
A1 C. Janson
A1 J. Anto
A1 P. Burney
A1 S. Chinn
A1 R. de Marco
A1 J. Heinrich
A1 D. Jarvis
A1 N. Kuenzli
A1 B. Leynaert
A1 C. Luczynska
A1 F. Neukirch
A1 C. Svanes
A1 J. Sunyer
A1 M. Wjst
A1 on behalf of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II
YR 2001
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/18/3/598.abstract
AB 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 from ∼140,000 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.