Dr. Carmen Storm discusses the oral allergy syndrome and how it relates to food allergy. Held on Dec 17, 2012.

Dr. Carmen Storm discusses the oral allergy syndrome and how it relates to food allergy. Held on Dec 17, 2012.

COLA (Conferences On-Line Allergy) is a live series of online allergy conferences held at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. World experts give presentations on topics related to allergy and immunology. Live conferences are held on Monday and Friday from 10-noon (central time). They can be joined by going to http://www.childrensmercy.org/cola

Dr. Manika Girdhar discusses a patient with suspected allergies and swelling who has something completely different instead.

Dr. Manika Girdhar discusses a patient with suspected allergies and swelling who has something completely different instead. Held on Jan 4, 2013.
COLA (Conferences On-Line Allergy) is a live series of online allergy conferences held at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. World experts give presentations on topics related to allergy and immunology. Live conferences are held on Monday and Friday from 10-noon (central time). They can be joined by going to http://www.childrensmercy.org/cola

Dr. Michelle Altrich discusses new allergy/immunology laboratory tests.

Dr. Michelle Altrich discusses new allergy/immunology laboratory tests. Held on Jan 7, 2013.

COLA (Conferences On-Line Allergy) is a live series of online allergy conferences held at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. World experts give presentations on topics related to allergy and immunology. Live conferences are held on Monday and Friday from 10-noon (central time). They can be joined by going to http://www.childrensmercy.org/cola

Characteristics of patients preferring once-daily controller therapy for asthma and COPD

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Research Paper

Characteristics of patients preferring once-daily controller therapy for asthma and COPD: a retrospective cohort study

^*David Price^1,2, Amanda J Lee³, Erika J Sims^2,4, Linda Kemp², Elizabeth V Hillyer², Alison Chisholm², Julie von Ziegenweidt², Angela Williams<sup>5

1</sup> Academic Centre of Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, UK

² Research in Real Life, Cambridge, UK

³ Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK

⁴ Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

⁵ GlaxoSmithKline R & D, Uxbridge, UK (currently with MedImmune, Cambridge, UK)

Received 7 September 2012 • Accepted 22 December 2012 • Online 4 March 2013


Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient preference is an important factor when choosing an inhaler device for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). AIMS: To identify characteristics of patients with asthma or COPD who prefer a once-daily controller medication regimen. METHODS: This retrospective observational study used electronic patient records and linked outcomes from patient-completed questionnaires in a primary care database. We compared the characteristics of patients indicating a preference for once-daily therapy with those who were unsure or indicating no preference. RESULTS: Of 3,731 patients with asthma, 2,174 (58%) were women; the mean age was 46 years (range 2–94). Of 2,138 patients with COPD, 980 (46%) were women; the mean age was 70 years (range 35–98). Approximately half of the patients in each cohort indicated once-daily preference, one-quarter were unsure, and one-quarter did not prefer once-daily therapy. In patients with asthma or COPD, the preference for once-daily controller medication was significantly associated with poor adherence and higher concerns about medication. In asthma, good control and low self-perceived controller medication need were associated with once-daily preference. By contrast, in COPD, a high self-perceived need for controller medication was associated with once-daily preference. There was no significant relationship between once-daily preference and age, sex, disease severity, or exacerbation history. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding patient preferences may help prescribers to individualise therapy better for asthma and COPD.

Cite as: Price D, Lee AJ, Sims EJ, Kemp L, Hillyer EV, Chisholm A, von Ziegenweidt J, Williams A. Characteristics of patients preferring once-daily controller therapy for asthma and COPD: a retrospective cohort study. Prim Care Respir J 2013; Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2013.00017

Keywords
adherence, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, once-daily, preference, retrospective observational study

* Corresponding author. David Price Tel: +44 (0)1224 554588 Fax: +44 (0)1224 554588 Email: david@respiratoryresearch.org

© 2013 Primary Care Respiratory Society UK. All rights reserved.

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Remote Monitoring of Inhaled Bronchodilator Use and Weekly Feedback about Asthma Management

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PLoS One. 2013; 8(2): e55335.

Published online 2013 February 27. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0055335

PMCID: PMC3584103

Remote Monitoring of Inhaled Bronchodilator Use and Weekly Feedback about Asthma Management: An Open-Group, Short-Term Pilot Study of the Impact on Asthma Control

David Van Sickle,^1,* Sheryl Magzamen,¹ Shaun Truelove,¹ and Teresa Morrison²

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Abstract

Objective

Adequate symptom control is a problem for many people with asthma. We asked whether weekly email reports on monitored use of inhaled, short-acting bronchodilators might improve scores on composite asthma-control measures.

Methods

Through an investigational electronic medication sensor attached to each participant's inhaler, we monitored 4 months' use of inhaled, short-acting bronchodilators. Participants completed surveys, including the Asthma Control Test^TM (ACT), to assess asthma control at entry and monthly thereafter. After the first month, participants received weekly email reports for 3 months. The reports summarized inhaled bronchodilator use during the preceding week and provided suggestions derived from National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Paired t-tests and random-effects mixed models were implemented to assess changes in primary asthma endpoints.

Results

Thirty individuals participated in the 4-month study; 29 provided complete asthma control information. Mean age was 36.8 years (range: 19–74 years); 52% of respondents were female. Mean ACT scores were 17.6 (Standard Deviation [SD] =3.35) at entry and 18.4 (SD=3.60) at completion of the first month. No significant difference appeared between ACT values at entry and completion of the first month (p=0.66); however, after participants began receiving email reports and online information about their inhaler use, mean ACT scores increased 1.40 points (95% CI: 0.61, 2.18) for each subsequent study month. Significant decreases occurred in 2-week histories of daytime symptoms (β=−1.35, 95% CI: −2.65, −0.04) and nighttime symptoms (β=−0.84, 95% CI: −1.25, −0.44); no significant change in activity limitation (β=−0.21, 95% CI: −0.69, 0.26) was observed. Participants reported increased awareness and understanding of asthma patterns, level of control, bronchodilator use (timing, location) and triggers, and improved preventive practices.

Conclusions

Weekly email reports and access to online charts summarizing remote monitoring of inhaled bronchodilator frequency and location were associated with improved asthma control and a decline in day-to-day asthma symptoms.

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PLoS One. 2013; 8(2): e57261.

Published online 2013 February 27. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0057261

PMCID: PMC3584110

Consumption of Artificially-Sweetened Soft Drinks in Pregnancy and Risk of Child Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis

Ekaterina Maslova,^1,2,* Marin Strøm,¹ Sjurdur F. Olsen,^1,2 and Thorhallur I. Halldorsson^1,3,4

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Abstract

Background

Past evidence has suggested a role of artificial sweeteners in allergic disease; yet, the evidence has been inconsistent and unclear.

Objective

To examine relation of intake of artificially-sweetened beverages during pregnancy with child asthma and allergic rhinitis at 18 months and 7 years.

Methods

We analyzed data from 60,466 women enrolled during pregnancy in the prospective longitudinal Danish National Birth Cohort between 1996 and 2003. At the 25th week of gestation we administered a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire which asked in detail about intake of artificially-sweetened soft drinks. At 18 months, we evaluated child asthma using interview data. We also assessed asthma and allergic rhinitis through a questionnaire at age 7 and by using national registries. Current asthma was defined as self-reported asthma diagnosis and wheeze in the past 12 months. We examined the relation between intake of artificially-sweetened soft drinks and child allergic disease outcomes and present here odds ratios with 95% CI comparing daily vs. no intake.

Results

At 18 months, we found that mothers who consumed more artificially-sweetened non-carbonated soft drinks were 1.23 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.33) times more likely to report a child asthma diagnosis compared to non-consumers. Similar results were found for child wheeze. Consumers of artificially-sweetened carbonated drinks were more likely to have a child asthma diagnosis in the patient (1.30, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.66) and medication (1.13, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.29) registry, as well as self-reported allergic rhinitis (1.31, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.74) during the first 7 years of follow-up. We found no associations for sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

Conclusion

Carbonated artificially-sweetened soft drinks were associated with registry-based asthma and self-reported allergic rhinitis, while early childhood outcomes were related to non-carbonated soft drinks. These results suggest that consumption of artificially-sweetened soft drinks during pregnancy may play a role in offspring allergic disease development.

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Using Text Messaging to Assess Adolescents' Health Information Needs: An Ecological Momentary Assessment

Original Paper

Using Text Messaging to Assess Adolescents' Health Information Needs: An Ecological Momentary Assessment

Rebecca Schnall¹, RN, PhD; Anastasia Okoniewski¹, MSN, PMHNP; Victoria Tiase², RN, MS; Alexander Low²; Martha Rodriguez¹, BS; Steven Kaplan², MD

¹Columbia University, School of Nursing, New York, NY, United States
²NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States

Corresponding Author:

Rebecca Schnall, RN, PhD

Columbia University
School of Nursing
617 W 168th Street
New York, NY, 10032
United States
Phone: 1 212 342 6886
Fax: 1 212 305 6937
Email: rb897 [at] columbia.edu

---

ABSTRACT

Background: Use of mobile technology has made a huge impact on communication, access, and information/resource delivery to adolescents. Mobile technology is frequently used by adolescents.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the health information needs of adolescents in the context of their everyday lives and to assess how they meet their information needs.
Methods: We gave 60 adolescents smartphones with unlimited text messaging and data for 30 days. Each smartphone had applications related to asthma, obesity, human immunodeficiency virus, and diet preinstalled on the phone. We sent text messages 3 times per week and asked the following questions: (1) What questions did you have about your health today? (2) Where did you look for an answer (mobile device, mobile application, online, friend, book, or parent)? (3) Was your question answered and how? (4) Anything else?
Results: Our participants ranged from 13-18 years of age, 37 (62%) participants were male and 22 (37%) were female. Of the 60 participants, 71% (42/60) participants identified themselves as Hispanic and 77% (46/60) were frequent users of mobile devices. We had a 90% (1935/2150) response rate to our text messages. Participants sent a total of 1935 text messages in response to the ecological momentary assessment questions. Adolescents sent a total of 421 text messages related to a health information needs, and 516 text messages related to the source of information to the answers of their questions, which were related to parents, friends, online, mobile apps, teachers, or coaches.
Conclusions: Text messaging technology is a useful tool for assessing adolescents’ health behavior in real-time. Adolescents are willing to use text messaging to report their health information. Findings from this study contribute to the evidence base on addressing the health information needs of adolescents. In particular, attention should be paid to issues related to diet and exercise. These findings may be the harbinger for future obesity prevention programs for adolescents.

(J Med Internet Res 2013;15(3):e54)
doi:10.2196/jmir.2395

KEYWORDS

text messaging; ecological momentary assessment; mobile health technology

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The Short Stature in Atopic Dermatitis Patients: Are Atopic Children Really Small for Their Age?

Annals of Dermatology 2013 Feb; 25(1): 23~27

The Short Stature in Atopic Dermatitis Patients: Are Atopic Children Really Small for Their Age?

Mi Kyung Park, Kui Young Park, Kapsok Li, Seong Jun Seo, Chang Kwun Hong

Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background: Short stature is sometimes seen in children with atopic dermatitis (AD); however, the topic has never been studied systematically. Objective: The aim of this study was to show whether AD itself affects stature in children and to evaluate the influence of other relevant factors such as genetic background, diet restrictions, and sleep disturbance on the stature of children with AD. Methods: The study population included Korean children 7 to 8 years of age who live in one district of Seoul, Korea. We used a questionnaire as an investigating tool to survey genetic backgrounds, environmental factors, and comorbidities. Student's t-test and linear regression were employed for statistical analysis. Results: In univariate analysis, the average stature in the AD group was short compared with the normal control group. Parental stature, dietary habit, and sleep patterns were also relevant factors with respect to stature. However, in multivariate analysis, AD itself had no influence on stature. Significant correlations were found for such factors as parental height, sleep disturbance, presence of asthma, and dietary restrictions, in decreasing magnitude. Conclusion: These results suggest that AD itself may not be the causative factor for short stature in children with AD. Therefore, consideration of other relevant factors related to short stature in patients with AD will be important for the proper management of the disease. (Ann Dermatol 25(1) 0∼27, 2013)

Annals of Dermatology 2013 Feb; 25(1): 23~27

Keyword : Atopic dermatitis, Diet restriction, Sleep disturbance, Stature