Epidemiology of sarcoidosis recorded in 2006-2010 in the Silesian voivodeship on the basis of routine medical reporting

Introduction and objective. The incidence of sarcoidosis (D.86.0, D.86.2) varies worldwide, although published data suggest that the rate remains at the level 10–40/100 000 population. In Poland, statistics are not conducted on sarcoidosis. The etiology of the disease remains unclear, but researchers suggest that one of causes is the exposure to environmental factors. The aim of this study is to determine territorial and temporal variations of incidence and hospitalized prevalence of sarcoidosis for adults aged 19 and older living in the Silesian voivodeship in south-western Poland. Materials and methods. To identify the number of cases of sarcoidosis and the number of hospitalized patients in 2006–2010, the database of the National Health Fund in Katowice, Silesia, was used. Data related to adults aged 19 and older who were inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship. Standardized incidence and prevalence rates for total sarcoidosis per 100,000 population were calculated using the world standard population. Temporal and spatial variability of both rates in the Silesian voivodeship were presented according to ArcGIS 9.2. Results. The number of new cases of sarcoidosis is still increasing. The disease occurred primarily in younger men (25–50 years of age), as well as in some older women (age group 50–64 years). Standardized incidence rates of total sarcoidosis are in the range 3.8–4.5/100,000 population. There was a probable relationship between the incidence of sarcoidosis and the area of forest (r=0.4) or arable land (r=0.3). Conclusions. Sarcoidosis is a rare disease in the Silesian voivodeship and the standardized incidence and prevalence rates are slightly higher in men than in women. In the study period, spatial variability was observed. The highest rates were typical for districts with a predominance of forests and arable land

Social and family-related correlates of medical care utilization by asthmatic children in Upper Silesia, Poland

Background: Studies on childhood asthma demonstrate socioeconomic disparities in medical care utilization. A lack of information for Poland prompted our investigation into this question. Its goal was to discover if the utilization of medical services by asthmatic children depends on social and family factors. Methods: Subjects were 186 children with physician-diagnosed asthma, identified through a questionnaire survey of 4,535 school children in Katowice District, Poland. Utilization of medical care was assessed by such past year events as medical visits (44.0%), any diagnostic test (35.4%) and spirometry (30.6%). Association of those events with socioeconomic variables was explored by means of logistic regression, according to the criterion p≤ 0.1. Results: After adjustment for disease severity and gender medical visits were related to younger age (p=0.009), family history of respiratory diseases (p=0.08) and rural residence (p=0.09), any diagnostic tests to younger age (p=0.08), smaller number of siblings (p=0.01) and rural residence (p=0.004); spirometry to smaller number of siblings (p=0.09) and rural residence (p=0.006). Conclusion: Clinical status and age are important determinants of utilization of medical services by asthmatic children. The effects of rural residence and family size may reflect a more attentive response to the needs of a sick child

Respiratory hypersensitivity reactions to NSAIDs in Europe: the global allergy and asthma network (GA2LEN) survey

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most prevalent drugs inducing hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of NSAID-induced respiratory symptoms in population across Europe and to assess its association with upper and lower respiratory tract disorders. Methods: The GA2LEN survey was conducted in 22 centers in 15 European countries. Each of 19 centers selected random samples of 5000 adults aged 15–74 from their general population, and in three centers (Athens, Munich, Oslo), a younger population was sampled. Questionnaires including questions about age, gender, presence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, smoking status, and history of NSAID-induced hypersensitivity reactions were sent to participants by mail. Totally, 62 737 participants completed the questionnaires. Results: The mean prevalence of NSAID-induced dyspnea was 1.9% and was highest in the three Polish centers [Katowice (4.9%), Krakow (4.8%), and Lodz (4.4%)] and lowest in Skopje, (0.9%), Amsterdam (1.1%), and Umea (1.2%). In multivariate analysis, the prevalence of respiratory reactions to NSAIDs was higher in participants with chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms (Odds Ratio 2.12; 95%CI 1.78–2.74), asthma symptoms in last 12 months (2.7; 2.18–3.35), hospitalization due to asthma (1.53; 1.22–1.99), and adults vs children (1.53; 1.24–1.89), but was not associated with allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Our study documented significant variation between European countries in the prevalence of NSAID-induced respiratory hypersensitivity reactions, and association with chronic airway diseases, but also with environmental factors. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Lt