[Prevalence of sensitisation to aeraoallergens and food allergens: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)]. / Prävalenz von Sensibilisierungen gegen Inhalations- und Nahrungsmittelallergene : Ergebnisse der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1).

In view of the increasing prevalence of allergies, up-to-date data on the prevalence of allergic sensitisation are of major interest. In the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) (2008-2011) blood samples from a population-based sample of 7,025 participants aged 18 to 79 years were analysed for specific IgE antibodies against 50 common single allergens and screened for common aeroallergens (SX1) and grass pollen (GX1). In all, 48.6 % of the participants were sensitised to at least one allergen. Overall, men were more frequently sensitised to at least one allergen than women were. Sensitisations to at least one allergen were more common among younger than older participants and among participants with a higher socio-economic status. In all, 33.6 % of the participants were sensitised to common aeroallergens, 25.5 % to food allergens and 22.6 % to wasp or bee venoms. Compared with the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 (GNHIES98), the prevalence of sensitisation to common aeroallergens increased from 29.8 to 33.6 %.This increase was statistically significant only in women. The results of DEGS1 still showed a high prevalence of allergic sensitisation. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as supplemental.

[Prevalence of allergic diseases in Germany: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)]. / Häufigkeit allergischer Erkrankungen in Deutschland : Ergebnisse der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1).

In the first wave of the "German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults" (DEGS1), up-to-date and representative data regarding allergic diseases of 7988 18- to 79-year-old subjects living in Germany were collected using computer-assisted medical interviews. The study identified a lifetime prevalence of 8.6% for asthma, 14.8% for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, 3.5% each for atopic dermatitis and urticaria, 8.1% for contact eczema, 4.7% for food allergies and 2.8% for insect venom allergies. Overall, nearly one third of adults in Germany have been diagnosed with at least one of the above mentioned allergies during their lifetime by a physician. Currently, nearly 20% suffer from at least one allergic disease. Generally, women reported an allergic disease more frequently than men and younger subjects more frequently than older ones. Additionally, allergies are more common in the former federal states of West Germany than in the former East German federal states. A high socioeconomic status and living in large cities both increase allergy risk. During the last 10 years, asthma prevalence increased about 3%, whereas the prevalence of urticaria and contact eczema declined. The lifetime prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and food allergies appeared unchanged. In total, allergy prevalence has declined from 32.7-28.7% over the past decade. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as supplemental.

[Determinants of asthma among children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the German Health and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)]. / Einflussfaktoren für Asthma bronchiale bei Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse der KiGGS-Studie.

In this study, associations between current asthma and possible determinants were studied using data of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents ("Studie zur Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland," KiGGS). In this nationwide cross-sectional survey, 17,461 subjects aged 0-17 years were examined between 2003 and 2006. Data collection included a medical examination of the child, an interview of the parents, and written questionnaires. Apart from prevalence estimates, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Increasing age and male sex, previous atopic diseases of the child, a positive family history of allergic diseases and low birth weight were significant risk factors of asthma, as were overweight and moldy walls in the residence. Breast feeding was not associated with a reduced risk of asthma. Low age at delivery of the mother and living in rural or provincial regions were shown to be protected. Overall, this study suggests that allergies of the parents and previous atopic disease of the child are the strongest determinants of asthma. However, environmental factors (mold on walls, living in rural and provincial towns) and lifestyle factors could also modify asthma risk.

[Classification of specific IgE antibodies in children with hay fever and other atopic diseases in Germany. Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)]. / Sensibilisierungsstatus bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Heuschnupfen und anderen atopischen Erkrankungen. Ergebnisse aus dem Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey (KiGGS).

The dependencies between sensitization to common allergens (mono- and polysensitization, IgE level and patterns) and symptomatic hay fever and other atopic diseases, respectively, in children and adolescents are shown in this analysis. The evaluation was based on the KiGGS ("Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey") study. Our analysis was performed using complex samples methods with SPSS. Participants were interviewed by a physician using a validated questionnaire asking for atopic diseases and symptoms. Specific IgE levels were measured from the age of 3 years on by using the ImmunoCap® test system. The prevalences of hay fever and polysensitizations both significantly increase with increasing age of the participants, while boys are more often affected than girls and migrants less often regarding sensitizations. Prevalence of hay fever decreases with increasing number of older siblings and increases with atopy of one or both parents. Different positive correlations between increasing IgE levels and hay fever were identified, the greatest association was observed with herbal inhalative allergens and cross-reacting food allergens. Lowest IgE levels to nearly all of the tested allergens show a positive correlation with hay fever prevalence. In conclusion, the study indicates that the clinical definition of the lowest positive IgE levels as "marginal" should be discussed as well as indications for specific immunotherapy.

[Drug therapy of asthma. Results of the 1998 German National Health Interview and Examination Survey]. / Arzneimitteltherapie des Asthma bronchiale. Ergebnisse des Bundes-Gesundheitssurveys 1998.

The lifetime prevalence of bronchial asthma in adults is approximately 5%. Recommended drug therapy of this condition depends largely on its severity and varies from the on demand use of bronchodilators as a single measure up to the additional and sometimes permanent use of inhaled and/or systemic glucocorticoids. In this study, the prevalence and drug therapy of bronchial asthma were analysed in a representative sample of the resident population in Germany aged 18-79 years. We also report about health care utilization, like hospital stay, emergency treatments and use of ambulant medical care, and its associations with asthma medication. Of those study participants who affirmed a medical diagnosis of asthma, 17.3% used corticoid drugs continuously, 19.1% occasionally and 61.8% never. Use of medical services after an asthma attack was reported most often by those who took corticoid drugs regularly. Older people with asthma mostly used glucocorticoids regularly, while in very young patients the occasional use of corticoids was reported more often. When looking at the actual drug use (7 days before the examination) according to the drug usage questionnaire, anti-asthma drugs were mentioned as follows: 47.8% of persons with asthma, diagnosed during the last 4 weeks, used inhaled adrenergic drugs, 34.8% inhaled glucocorticoids, 2.1% systemic adrenergic drugs and 19.3% systemic theophyllines. The measured serum concentrations of theophylline were below 5 mg/l in 34.4%, between 5 and 8 mg/l in 28.1%, between 8 and 20 mg/l in 35.9% and somewhat over 20 mg/l in 1.6%. Our data suggest that especially young asthmatics may not be sufficiently treated with anti-inflammatory therapy, but further studies are needed. If such a deficit can be confirmed, measures for better adherence of therapy to existing guidelines should be considered. Our results, especially on serum concentrations of theophylline, suggest that therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of serum samples is not only an important tool in health surveys, but also suitable for increasing the safety and quality of drug treatment in asthmatics.

[Accidents - places, circumstances, sequels. Results of a German federal health survey 1998]. / Unfälle - Orte, Umstände und Folgen. Ergebnisse des Bundes-Gesundheitssurveys 1998.

Accident data of a representative sample of the German population aged 18 to 79 years are presented. Database was the 1998 Federal German Health Survey. Men suffer more often from accidents than women (15.1 versus 9.4 %); this figure is mainly based on the accident frequency of young men. Main emphases of the injury events lay on domestic accidents, work accidents and sports/leisure accidents. Regarding the domestic accidents more far-reaching preventive measures should be predominantly undertaken since these accidents must be regarded as largely avoidable. The frequency of work accidents is very different, depending on the occupational group. The accident frequency of trainees calls especially for prevention measures. The risk of a work accident increases with the combination of physical activity and responsibility. There are also early defined incidences of strain enhancing the risk of work accidents. Again, the incidence of leisure accidents is especially great for the male population. Since regular sports is part of health system recommendations, the steep rise in the rate of sports accidents should not be tolerated. More than 70 % of all working persons are not fit for work after an accident. If a physically exhausting profession is practised, then accidents result by more than 80 % in inability to work. The frequency peak of the duration of the work inability is 1 to 2 weeks. The duration of a work inability after an accident increases with increasing age. Bone fractures as a consequence of injuries play an increasingly great role with increasing age; in women earlier than in men. In persons over 70 years of age, far more than half of the injury consequences result in bone fractures.

The pharmacokinetics of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist fenoterol in healthy women.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of fenoterol in healthy women during and after a 3 h intravenous infusion of different doses within the therapeutic range for tocolysis (0.5 microgram.min-1, 1.0 micrograms.min-1, and 2.0 micrograms.min-1). A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay was used for the determination of fenoterol. For compartmental analysis the plasma concentration time data were fitted with the TOPFIT program, assuming two exponentials. The total clearance of fenoterol increased with dose (1299 ml.min-1 at 0.5 microgram.min-1, 1483 ml.min-1 at 1.0 micrograms.min-1, and 1924 ml.min-1 at 2.0 micrograms.min-1), as did the apparent volume of distribution (from 49 l at the lowest to 85 l at the highest dose). In contrast, the apparent half-lives were not dose-dependent, with t1/2.lambda 1 4.8 min and t1/2.lambda z 52 min.