National income, self-reported wheezing and asthma diagnosis from the World Health Survey.

The aims of this study were to quantify and describe the variations in respiratory symptoms and diagnosis prevalence across regions of the world according to national income. In 2002 and 2003, the World Health Organization implemented the World Health Survey (WHS), which used a standardised survey instrument to compile comprehensive baseline information on health and healthcare expenditure. We analysed the WHS data to assess the global patterns of self-reported wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma, two commonly reported measures of respiratory health. In total there were 308,218 participants with complete records, from 64 countries. The weighted mean age of the survey population was 43 yrs. Global prevalence of current wheezing symptoms ranged from 2.4% in Vietnam to 24% in Brazil; the prevalence of diagnosed asthma ranged from 1.8% in Vietnam to 32.8% in Australia. Overall, the prevalence of symptoms and diagnosis showed a U-shaped pattern with the largest prevalence reported in low- and high-income countries. The smallest prevalence was consistently found in middle-income countries. These WHS analyses have provided global prevalence estimates of wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma using data gathered simultaneously and consistently across six continents. These findings support the need for continued global respiratory illness surveillance for disease prevention, health policy and management.

Long-term neuropsychological effects and MRI findings in patients with CS2 poisoning.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term neuropsychological effects and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings among retired patients with a history of exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-four patients with a history of exposure to CS2 were divided into two equal groups according to their level of exposure, and they completed a questionnaire and were evaluated for neuropsychological symptoms using the Korean version of the revised Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Thirty-one MRI images were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in total, verbal and performance IQs between high- and low-exposure groups. MRI findings revealed a significantly larger number of cerebral lacunae (five of 12 subjects) in the high-exposure group. Periventricular hyperintensities were mostly located in frontal and occipital areas, and white-matter hyperintensities were mostly in frontal and parietal areas. CONCLUSION: The higher prevalence of lacunae in the high-exposure group as revealed by MRI suggests that further MRI studies are needed into long-term neuropsychological effects induced by CS2.