Prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in a Tunisian population.

BACKGROUND: Asthma and rhinitis are a major public health problem because of their frequency, their impact on quality of life and economic burden. In Tunisia, epidemiological data are scarce. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in a representative Tunisian population and to analyze the association between them. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional population-based study, involving individuals aged between 2 and 52 years, living in Tunis. A sample of the general population was generated using a random stratified sampling method. A detailed face-to-face questionnaire based on ISAAC and the ECRHS survey was used. Classification of rhinitis was evaluated according to ARIA. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 4470 responders (40.2% male and 59.8% female). The response rate was 96.5%. The prevalence of current asthma was 6.5% (CI 5.9%-7.8%). A slight female predominance was observed in children and adolescents but in adulthood gender-specific prevalence estimates were similar. The prevalence of rhinitis in the general population was 11.7% (CI 10.1%-13.5%) in children and 13.4% (CI 11.1%-14.6%) in 15 years and older. No statistically significant differences were found according to gender and age. Almost half of asthmatics' had current rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis versus 13.4% in the population sample (P < 0.001). Current asthma was reported in 22.5% subjects with current rhinitis or with rhinoconjunctivitis. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma and rhinitis represent a considerable public health problem in children and adults up to age 52 in Tunisian population. Our results confirm also the strong association between them. These findings highlight the need for a clinical global assessment of asthma together with rhinitis.

Sit-to-stand test and 6-min walking test correlation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The 6-min walking test (6MWT) is one of the most commonly used tests to assess exercise capacity during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is a relatively time-consuming test. Many authors assessed the usefulness of simpler methods, as the sit-to-stand test (STST), to estimate exercise capacity. PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of STST, in comparison to 6MWT, for the evaluation of functional status in Tunisian COPD patients and evaluate its correlation to the severity of the disease. METHODS: We studied patients with COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease A-D). All patients had plethysmography and manual quadriceps femoris muscle strength evaluation. Each patient completed a 6MWT and a STST. During the tests, dyspnea severity (Borg scale), heart rate, pulsed oxygen saturation, and blood pressure were measured. RESULTS: In 49 patients with stable COPD (mean age 67.06 ± 8.4 years, mean forced expiratory volume in the first second 46.25% ± 19.64%), 6MWT and STST were correlated with each other (r = 0.47, P = 0.001). During 6MWT and STST, the rise in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and severity of dyspnea were statistically significant compared to baseline (P < 0.05). However, cardiorespiratory stress was lower after STST than after 6MWT (P < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was noted between the 6MWT distance and forced vital capacity (r = 0.357, P < 0.05). The 6MWT was negatively correlated with dyspnea severity at baseline (r = -0.289, P < 0.05) and with BODE index (r = -0.672, P < 0.01). STST was correlated only with age (r = 0.377, P < 0.01). No correlation was found between both tests and quadriceps femoris strength. CONCLUSION: As like as 6MWT, STST can determine functional status during COPD. In addition, it is less time consuming and produces less hemodynamical stress compared to 6MWT. STST can be used as an alternative for 6MWT in patients with COPD.