Differences in clinical test results of patients with bronchial asthma and living environment. Research in rural and urban areas in the eastern part of Poland.
The objective of the research was to evaluate immunological and clinical parameters in bronchial asthma patients from rural and urban areas in the east part of Poland. The study comprised 55 subjects reporting from November 2001 to January 2002 at the Pulmonary Department in order to have the disease diagnosed or to continue the treatment. The type of symptoms was determined on the basis of the standardized questionnaire. The patients were subjected to spirometry and skin prick tests. Blood eosinophil number as well as total and specific IgE levels were also evaluated. Significant (p<0.05) disturbances in respiratory parameters were found in 23% of patients living in the city and in 50% of subjects from the rural area. The level of IgE against grass pollens was significantly (p<0.01) higher in urban residents. The level of IgE against house dust was similar in both groups. Our study shows important differences between clinical manifestation of asthma in rural and inner-city patients and indicates that different aetiology may play an important role in asthma development.
Pulmonary Department, Medical University of Lublin.
Paweł
P
Krawczyk
Sylwia
S
Chocholska
Barbara
B
Mackiewicz
Ewa
E
Trembas-Pietraś
Irena
I
Wegrzyn-Szkutnik
Janusz
J
Milanowski
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E