scholarly journals Symptom control among asthmatics with a clinically significant smoking history: a cross-sectional study in Finland

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Kiljander ◽  
Tuija Poussa ◽  
Timo Helin ◽  
Antero Jaakkola ◽  
Kari Venho ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Kiljander ◽  
Tuija Poussa ◽  
Timo Helin ◽  
Antero Jaakkola ◽  
Kari Venho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Surprisingly little is known about asthma control among asthmatics who smoke. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate asthma symptom control according to the GINA guidelines among asthmatics with a clinically significant smoking history. Methods One hundred ninety asthmatics from primary care in Finland were investigated. The patients were current or previous cigarette smokers with a history of 10 or more pack-years. They completed a questionnaire including questions on asthma symptoms and reliever use so that their level of asthma symptom control (well controlled, partly controlled, or uncontrolled) according to GINA could be determined. Results Sixty-six (34.7%) patients had their asthma well controlled, 81 (42.6%) had their asthma partly controlled, and 43 (22.6%) had uncontrolled asthma. Current smokers had uncontrolled asthma more often than ex-smokers, OR 2.54 (95% CI 1.25-5.14, p=0.01). Patients with moderate to severe asthma exacerbation during the previous year had uncontrolled asthma more often than patients without an exacerbation, OR 2.17 (95% CI 1.06-4.47, p=0.04), and patients with FEV1 < 80% of predicted had uncontrolled asthma more often than patients with FEV1 > 80% of predicted, OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.02-4.08, p=0.04). Conclusions Asthmatic patients with a clinically significant smoking history often do not have well controlled asthma. Poor asthma symptom control was associated with current smoking status, history of exacerbations and impaired lung function. Therefore, every attempt should be made to help asthmatics who smoke to quit smoking.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Kiljander ◽  
Tuija Poussa ◽  
Timo Helin ◽  
Antero Jaakkola ◽  
Kari Venho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Surprisingly little is known about asthma control among asthmatics who smoke. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate asthma symptom control according to the GINA guidelines among asthmatics with a clinically significant smoking history. Methods One hundred ninety asthmatics from primary care in Finland were investigated. The patients were current or previous cigarette smokers with a history of 10 or more pack-years. They completed a questionnaire including questions on asthma symptoms and reliever use so that their level of asthma symptom control (well controlled, partly controlled, or uncontrolled) according to GINA could be determined. Results Sixty-six (34.7%) patients had their asthma well controlled, 81 (42.6%) had their asthma partly controlled, and 43 (22.6%) had uncontrolled asthma. Current smokers had uncontrolled asthma more often than ex-smokers, OR 2.54 (95% CI 1.25-5.14, p=0.01). Patients with moderate to severe asthma exacerbation during the previous year had uncontrolled asthma more often than patients without an exacerbation, OR 2.17 (95% CI 1.06-4.47, p=0.04), and patients with FEV1 < 80% of predicted had uncontrolled asthma more often than patients with FEV1 > 80% of predicted, OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.02-4.08, p=0.04). Conclusions Asthmatic patients with a clinically significant smoking history often do not have well controlled asthma. Poor asthma symptom control was associated with current smoking status, history of exacerbations and impaired lung function. Therefore, every attempt should be made to help asthmatics who smoke to quit smoking.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (Suppl-3) ◽  
pp. S512-16
Author(s):  
Tahir Ghulam Abbas ◽  
Atif Hafeez Siddiqui ◽  
Syed Hasan Abbas Zaidi ◽  
Danish -Ur- Rahim ◽  
Irfan Ahmed Shaikh ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and diagnostic significance of anosmia and ageusia among COVID-19 positive patients of Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, (Dow University of Health Sciences), Karachi Pakistan, from Jan 2021 to Feb 2021. Methodology: The data were collected prospectively from 265 COVID-19 positive patients. Some patients were interviewed over the telephone, while for patient's ease, an online Google form was also formed, facilitating the online data collection. The patient's demographics, comorbidities, allergies, and COVID-19 associated characteristics were inquired. The statistical analysis was performed on SPSS version 23. Results: The observed frequency of anosmia and ageusia in COVID-19 patients was 49.1% & 43.8% respectively. The median time to recovery was 8-8.5 days (median) for both symptoms. We found no significant difference for gender, BMI, marital status, residential area, comorbidities and reason for long-standing breathing difficulties between patients with or without both anosmia and ageusia (p>0.05). Furthermore, most of the cigarette smokers reported none of the two symptoms (anosmia and ageusia), 24% and 25.2% of COVID-19 positive cases with smoking history were presented without anosmia and ageusia, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Loss of sense of smell and taste was reported in almost half of the studied population infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, screening for anosmia and ageusia must be considered while COVID-19 suspicion as an important diagnostic clue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (B) ◽  
pp. 709-715
Author(s):  
Ni Luh Putu Eka Arisanti ◽  
Ni Putu Ayu Widiasari ◽  
Ida Bagus Ngurah Rai

AIM: The objective of the study was to determine chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function of farmers. METHODS: The study was conducted in Utu Village, Tabanan, Bali with 84 subjects. This research was observational analytic cross sectional study. RESULTS: Three dominant chronic respiratory symptoms in farmers were coughing (15.1%), dyspnea (13.1%), and phlegm (13.1%). Average values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC were 83.75 ± 34.42, respectively, 81.62 ± 34.30 and 104.90 ± 13.90, respectively. Cough was dominant experiencing by smokers (p = 0.008). Mean of FEV1% prediction and FVC% prediction value was lower in passive smoker group than no smoker group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure while farming and raising livestock can cause chronic respiratory symptom and lung function decline in farmers and can be influenced by smoking history and secondhand smoke exposure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 030006052096433
Author(s):  
Bekalu Getahun Agaje ◽  
Demoze Delelegne ◽  
Elias Abera ◽  
Kindie Desta ◽  
Mikael Girum ◽  
...  

Objective To assess the strabismus prevalence and associated factors among children aged ≤15 years. Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to October 2017 in the Department of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect relevant data and clinical examinations were performed for patient diagnosis. Results Overall, 582 children participated in the study (response rate, 97%). The prevalence of childhood strabismus was 17.9% [95% confidence interval: 14.6–21.1]. Additionally, 9.6%, 16.7%, and 9.6% of the children had anisometropia, amblyopia, and dense cataract, respectively. Among the 16.7% of children with amblyopia, 56.7% had strabismus; among the 22.5% of children with clinically significant refractive error, 52.7% had strabismus. Moreover, among the 9.6% of children with anisometropia, 58.9% had strabismus. The presence of amblyopia (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.9, 1.7–8.6), age <5 years (13.5 [5.0–36.1]), age 5 to 10 years (6.1 [2.3–16.3]), and clinically significant refractive error (13.3 [5.8–30.6]) were significantly associated with childhood strabismus. Conclusions The prevalence of strabismus was relatively high among patients in this study. Early screening for childhood strabismus is essential. A well-controlled community-based study is needed to confirm strabismus prevalence and predictors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-38
Author(s):  
Hasmin Hannah R. Lara ◽  
Angelo A. Monroy

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and identify the types of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPCA) among patients with nasopharyngeal mass seen at a tertiary university training hospital in the Philippines from January 2006 – July 2012 and identify possible factors associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods:  A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary university training hospital among cases (n=179) seen with nasopharyngeal mass at the ENT outpatient department. Histopathology results and patient medical charts were collected and reviewed after IRB approval. The age at diagnosis, sex, place of residence, occupation and chief complaint was compared among patients with positive histopathology of NPCA only.             Design:           Retrospective, cross sectional study             Setting:           Tertiary Private University Training Hospital Participants:  179 patients with nasopharyngeal mass Results:  96 (54%) cases with nasopharyngeal mass seen at the ENT outpatient department were positive for nasopharyngeal malignancy. The remaining 83 (46%) cases with nasopharyngeal mass had a benign histopathology. NPCA was more common among males (58%) than females (42%). The most common form of NPCA was non-keratinizing undifferentiated NPCA (47%) followed by poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in 18 (19%). The most common chief complaint was a neck mass, followed by decreased hearing. Conclusion: There was a higher proportion of nasopharyngeal malignancy among male patients with nasopharyngeal mass, and the most common chief complaint was a neck mass. Future research should integrate data with other hospital institutions to obtain more accurate demographic data of the local prevalence of NPCA. A detailed record of the ethnicity, diet, occupation, smoking history and family history of cases should be obtained to correlate possible risk factors of NPCA among patients with nasopharyngeal mass in our setting.     Keywords: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, nasopharyngeal mass, epidemiology, prevalence  


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Msherghi ◽  
Ali Alsuyihili ◽  
Ahmed Alsoufi ◽  
Aimen Ashini ◽  
Zenib Alkshik ◽  
...  

ObjectiveWe aimed to provide an overview of the psychological status and behavioral consequences of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the Libyan population through May and June 2020 in more than 20 cities. The survey comprised basic demographic data of the participants and anxiety symptoms measured using the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) with ≥15 as the cut-off score for clinically significant anxiety symptoms. Additionally, a survey regarding the lockdown effect was administered, which consisted of several parts, to measure the lockdown status.ResultsA total of 8084 responses were recorded, of which, 5090 (63%) were women and 2994 (37%) were men. The mean age (SD) for study participants was 27.2 (8.9) years. Among the participants, 1145 (14.2%) reached the cut-off score to detect anxiety symptoms; however, of the study variables, only five were predictors of clinically significant anxiety: age, gender, marital status, work status, being a financial supporter for the family, and being infected with COVID-19. Women had 1.19 times higher odds to exhibit anxiety symptoms than men. Increasing age was significantly associated with reduced likelihood of exhibiting anxiety symptoms, whereas being married was significantly associated with higher likelihood of anxiety symptoms, compared to not being married. Being suspended from work was associated with an increase in the likelihood of anxiety symptoms. However, we found that being infected with COVID-19 was associated with a 9.59 times higher risk of exhibiting severe anxiety symptoms. Among the study participants, 1451 (17.9%) reported a physical and/or verbal abuse episode from family members, 958 (11.9%) reported abuse outside the family, and 641 (7.9%) reported abuse from enforcers, during the lockdown.ConclusionOur study provided an overview of the psychological and behavioral status, among those who resided in Libya during the civil war and COVID-19 pandemic. The study demonstrates a concerningly high level of clinically significant anxiety during lockdown among the Libyan population during Libya’s lockdown period.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1304
Author(s):  
Lingkan Barua ◽  
Muhammed Shahriar Zaman ◽  
Fardina Rahman Omi ◽  
Mithila Faruque

Background: Frontline doctors are the most vulnerable and high-risk population to get the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and fear of COVID-19 among frontline doctors of Bangladesh during the pandemic, and the associated factors for these psychological symptoms. Methods: In total, 370 frontline doctors who were involved in the treatment of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients during the pandemic took part in an online cross-sectional study. Recruitment was completed using convenience sampling and the data were collected after the start of community transmission of COVID-19 in the country. Anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance, and fear of COVID-19 were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, two-item version of the Sleep Condition Indicator, and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 scale, respectively. Socio-demographic information, health service-related information, co-morbidity, and smoking history were collected for evaluating risk factors. The proportion of psychological symptoms were presented using descriptive statistics and the associated factors were identified using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the doctors, 36.5% had anxiety, 38.4% had depression, 18.6% had insomnia, and 31.9% had fear of COVID-19. In multinomial logistic regression, inadequate resources in the workplace were found as the single most significant predictor for all psychological outcomes: anxiety and/or depression (severe, OR 3.0, p=0.01; moderate, OR 5.3, p=0.000; mild, OR 2.3, p=0.003), sleep disturbance (moderate, OR 1.9, p=0.02), and fear of COVID-19 (severe, OR 1.9, p=0.03; moderate, OR 1.8, p=0.03). Conclusions: The study demonstrated a high burden of psychological symptoms among frontline doctors of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Inadequate resources are contributing to the poor mental health of Bangladeshi doctors. The supply of sufficient resources in workplaces and mental health counseling may help to mitigate the burden of the psychological symptoms identified among the respondents..


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