International medical students project (IMSP) Results of the questionaire Asthma and Allergies 2002 Szczecin (Poland), Lund (Sweden), Greifswald (Germany)

Questionaire Results –Asthma –Chronical Bronchitis and Emphysema –Allergic eczema –Hay fever –Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures –Smoking habits Discussion Main points

Questionaire revised version of the British Medical Research Council Questionaire (1960) – Sweden 1998 – Estonia, Finnland, Sweden 1998 planned april 2002 participants 595 statistical methods: –  2 - Test –Considered significant p < 0,05

Questionaire Sweden 215 Germany 210 Poland 170

Self-reported Asthma (no significant differentces) –Germany10% –Sweden 7,4% –Poland5,9% Diagnosed with Asthma by a Physician (Differences not significant): –Germany9% –Sweden 5,6% –Poland6,5% Results Asthma

Self-reported CBE (p < 0,05): Diagnosed with CBE by a Physician (p < 0,07): Results Chronical Bronchitis and Emphysema GermanySwedenPoland 4,8 95,297,6 2,40,9 99,1 GermanySwedenPoland 6,2 93,897,6 2,40,9 99,1

Self-reported (p < 0,001): Results Allergic Eczema GermanySwedenPoland 31,4 68,695,9 4,121,4 78,6

Self-reported (p < 0,035): Results Hay-fever: GermanySwedenPoland 20,5 79,580,6 19,429,3 70,7

Differences between gender: FemalevsMale Germany16,9%27,9% Sweden 25%32,6% Poland20,2%17,8% Results Hay-fever

Symtomes (not significant) : –On effort 8-16% –In cold weather 8% –In cold and foggy weather 0.6-6% –Car exhaust fumes 5-8% –By stress 3-7% Difference between gender? Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances

From dust (p < 0,01): Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances GermanySwedenPoland 18,1 81,985,9 14,1 missing

By cigarette or tobacco smoke ( p < 0,05): Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances GermanySwedenPoland 21,4 78,685,9 14,112,1 87,9

By strong smelling scents, parfumes etc. ( p < 0,001): Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances GermanySwedenPoland 10,5 89,595,9 4,11,9 98,1

By pollen ( p = 0,01): Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances GermanySwedenPoland 12,4 87,695,9 4,17 93

By furred animals ( p = 0,011): Results Respiratory symtoms due to different exposures and circumstances GermanySwedenPoland 9,5 90,597,6 2,45,1 94,9

No significance: –less then 5 cigarettes per day 5-12% –ex-smokers 9-17% Results Smoking habits

Smokers (p<0,01) : Results Smoking habits GermanySwedenPoland 19,5 80,591,8 8,214,4 85,6

5-14 cigarettes per day (p<0,01) : Results Smoking habits GermanySwedenPoland 7,6 92,490,6 9,41,9 98,1

>14 cigarettes per day (p<0,01) : Results Smoking habits GermanySwedenPoland 1,9 98,194,7 5,30,4 99,6

Exposed to smoke at home (p<0,001) : Results Smoking habbits 13 GermanySwedenPoland 38,1 61,9 missing 87

Special profile of study Results in comparison to other studies Discussion

Participant`s age Discussion Profile of the study

Social status Income Differences Eastern and Western Europe Discussion Profile of the study

Differences East / West Germany –Lifestyle differences (nutrition, housing conditions) –Environmental factors (travel habits, air pollution) –Access to child- and healthcare Discussion Profile of the study

Differences between East and West Germany in 1991 and 1995 Discussion Profile of the study Asthma attack prevalence Diagnosed with Asthma %

Higher life standard assosiated positively with hay fever, atopy (and eczema) Lower life standard assosiated with –worse management of Asthma –higher exacerbation rates of Asthma –increased Asthma mortality Discussion Profile of the study

Higher life standard assosiated positively with hay fever, atopy (and eczema) Lower life standard assosiated with –worse management of Asthma –higher exacerbation rates of Asthma –increased Asthma mortality Discussion Profile of the study

Climate Discussion Profile of the study