Asher, I., and N. Pearce. "Global Burden of Asthma among Children." Int J Tuberc Lung Dis The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2014, 1269-278.
This article provided a literary review on the burdens of asthma in children and how this is measured. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and global death rates from asthma range up to 0.7 per 100,000. Disability due to chronic diseases like asthma are becoming more important because infectious diseases are being controlled and prevented, allocating more resources towards these chronic diseases. Overall, the article stated that asthma burdens are increasing around the world as symptoms are becoming more common in low and middle income countries as well as high income countries. The burden asthma (including cost) is bringing upon children is in need of continuous monitoring using a standard method.
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
N. Pearce- Centre for Global NCDs, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; ‡Centre for Public Health Research Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand I. Asher- Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Pearce N, Asher I, Billo N, et al. Asthma in the global NCD agenda: a neglected epidemic. Lancet Respir Med 2013; 1: 96–98. Asher M I, Keil U, Anderson H R, et al. International Study ofAsthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 483–491.
Ellwood P, Asher M I, Beasley R, Clayton T O, Stewart A W,ISAAC Steering Committee. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): Phase Three rationale and methods. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2005; 9: 10–16. Pattemore P K, Asher M I, Harrison A C, Mitchell E A, Rea HH, Stewart A W. Ethnic differences in prevalence of asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in New Zealand schoolchildren. Thorax 1989; 44: 168–176.
Pearce N, Beasley R, Pekkanen J. Role of bronchial responsiveness testing in asthma prevalence surveys. Thorax 2000; 55: 352–354. Pekkanen J, Pearce N. Defining asthma in epidemiological studies. Eur Respir J 1999; 14: 951–957.
Asher M I, Pattemore P K, Harrison A C, et al. International comparison of the prevalence of asthma symptoms and bronchial hyper responsiveness. Am Rev Respir Dis 1988; 138: 524–529.
Asher M I, Anderson H R, Stewart A W, et al. Worldwide variations in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Eur Respir J 1998; 12: 315–335.
Asher I, Twiss J, Ellwood E. Epidemiology of asthma. In: Bush A, Wilmott R, Chernick V, Boat T, Deterding R, Ratjen F, eds. Kendig & Chernick’s disorders of the respiratory tract in children. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Saunders, 2012.
Pearce N, A¨ıt-Khaled N, Beasley R, et al. Worldwide trends in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thorax 2007; 62: 758-766.
Asher M I, Montefort S, Bjorksten B, et al. Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet 2006; 368: 733–743.
Pearce N, Asher I, Billo N, et al. Asthma in the global NCD agenda: a neglected epidemic. Lancet Respir Med 2013; 1: 96–98.
Pearce N, Pekkanen J, Beasley R. How much asthma is really attributable to atopy? Thorax 1999; 54: 268–272.
Douwes J, Gibson P, Pekkanen J, Pearce N. Non-eosinophilic asthma: importance and possible mechanisms. Thorax 2002; 57: 643–648. 46
Douwes J, Pearce N. Asthma and the westernization ‘package’. Int J Epidemiol 2002; 31: 1098–1102.
Foliaki S, Pearce N, Bjorksten B, et al. Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III. J Allergy Clin Immun 2009; 124: 982–989.
Ellwood P, Asher M I, Garcia-Marcos L, et al. Do fast foods cause asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema? Global findings from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three. Thorax 2013; 68: 351–360.
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
The main objective of the article was to prove that there needs to be more data regarding asthma and severity/prevalence rates in order to understand the problem and make the necessary changes to how we address the growing issues surrounding asthma in children.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
The majority of data on asthma prevalence and severity comes from symptom questionnaires which are self-reported or parent-reported.
Symptom questionnaires are not always standardized. As a result, information from one locality may not be comparable to another’s information.
Diagnosing asthma remains difficult due to many overlapping symptoms with other chronic diseases.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
“Standardised questionnaires on asthma symptoms have therefore become the cornerstone of the large studies on asthma incidence or prevalence in adults8 and children.”
“However, there is no ongoing coordinated approach by government organisations to estimate the burden of asthma, and there are no plans for the WHO World Health Survey to be repeated.”
“Greater accuracy in reporting of asthma deaths would be desirable, especially in countries where asthma is under-recognised or confused with pneumonia, COPD or heart failure, and therefore under-reported.”
“Delivering effective asthma management extends beyond the availability of essential medicines; it also requires political commitment to improve asthma in populations, upto-date asthma guidelines, trained health care workers, standard case management and effective information systems.”
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?
The authors researched the methods in which asthma is currently measured in populations by looking at how standardized questionnaires are distributed as well as their results. They researched an alternative method called bronchial responsiveness testing.
The article based a substantial amount of their conclusions on findings from ISAAC, The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children. They use a standardized questionnaire that is accessible to people in countries with low incomes and different languages.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
I was confused about the information presented in the section titled: THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE: DEATHSAND DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
Most of the health disparities were addressed in this section. I didn’t understand what they were talking about as I felt as they were constantly switching their argument.
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
It was clear from the articles bibliography that the authors used a large amount of studies that had collected data about asthma already. They didn’t collect new data for this study, but rather it was a compilation of previous reported data. The authors referenced many of their previous published journal articles regarding asthma.
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?**
In the article, it mentions that the Global Asthma Network, a non-governmental organization which was established in 2012, has plans to regular collect asthma data on adults and children. This data will hopefully display asthma prevalence, severity, and risk factors. They also work to improve asthma management in order to reduce the burden of severe asthma.
The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood has collected data that has shown that asthma in children has increased significantly in the past two decades. The organization emphasizes the use to straightforward methods to understand the severity and prevalence of asthma and allergies between diverse populations.
The World Health Survey was mentioned repeatedly in the article as it seemed to be the only coordinate approach by a government body that the authors of the articles felt to be consistent and reliable. Unfortunately, the world health survey would not be repeated the following years, leaving holes in future data measuring.
Asher, I., and N. Pearce. "Global Burden of Asthma among Children." Int J Tuberc Lung Dis The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2014, 1269-278.
This article provided a literary review on the burdens of asthma in children and how this is measured. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and global death rates from asthma range up to 0.7 per 100,000. Disability due to chronic diseases like asthma are becoming more important because infectious diseases are being controlled and prevented, allocating more resources towards these chronic diseases. Overall, the article stated that asthma burdens are increasing around the world as symptoms are becoming more common in low and middle income countries as well as high income countries. The burden asthma (including cost) is bringing upon children is in need of continuous monitoring using a standard method.
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
N. Pearce- Centre for Global NCDs, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; ‡Centre for Public Health Research Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
I. Asher- Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Pearce N, Asher I, Billo N, et al. Asthma in the global NCD agenda: a neglected epidemic. Lancet Respir Med 2013; 1: 96–98.
Asher M I, Keil U, Anderson H R, et al. International Study ofAsthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 483–491.
Ellwood P, Asher M I, Beasley R, Clayton T O, Stewart A W,ISAAC Steering Committee. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): Phase Three rationale and methods. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2005; 9: 10–16.
Pattemore P K, Asher M I, Harrison A C, Mitchell E A, Rea HH, Stewart A W. Ethnic differences in prevalence of asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in New Zealand schoolchildren. Thorax 1989; 44: 168–176.
Pearce N, Beasley R, Pekkanen J. Role of bronchial responsiveness testing in asthma prevalence surveys. Thorax 2000; 55: 352–354.
Pekkanen J, Pearce N. Defining asthma in epidemiological studies. Eur Respir J 1999; 14: 951–957.
Asher M I, Pattemore P K, Harrison A C, et al. International comparison of the prevalence of asthma symptoms and bronchial hyper responsiveness. Am Rev Respir Dis 1988; 138: 524–529.
Asher M I, Anderson H R, Stewart A W, et al. Worldwide variations in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Eur Respir J 1998; 12: 315–335.
Asher I, Twiss J, Ellwood E. Epidemiology of asthma. In: Bush A, Wilmott R, Chernick V, Boat T, Deterding R, Ratjen F, eds. Kendig & Chernick’s disorders of the respiratory tract in children. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Saunders, 2012.
Pearce N, A¨ıt-Khaled N, Beasley R, et al. Worldwide trends in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thorax 2007; 62: 758-766.
Asher M I, Montefort S, Bjorksten B, et al. Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet 2006; 368: 733–743.
Pearce N, Asher I, Billo N, et al. Asthma in the global NCD agenda: a neglected epidemic. Lancet Respir Med 2013; 1: 96–98.
Pearce N, Pekkanen J, Beasley R. How much asthma is really attributable to atopy? Thorax 1999; 54: 268–272.
Douwes J, Gibson P, Pekkanen J, Pearce N. Non-eosinophilic asthma: importance and possible mechanisms. Thorax 2002; 57: 643–648. 46
Douwes J, Pearce N. Asthma and the westernization ‘package’. Int J Epidemiol 2002; 31: 1098–1102.
Foliaki S, Pearce N, Bjorksten B, et al. Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III. J Allergy Clin Immun 2009; 124: 982–989.
Ellwood P, Asher M I, Garcia-Marcos L, et al. Do fast foods cause asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema? Global findings from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three. Thorax 2013; 68: 351–360.
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
The main objective of the article was to prove that there needs to be more data regarding asthma and severity/prevalence rates in order to understand the problem and make the necessary changes to how we address the growing issues surrounding asthma in children.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
The majority of data on asthma prevalence and severity comes from symptom questionnaires which are self-reported or parent-reported.
Symptom questionnaires are not always standardized. As a result, information from one locality may not be comparable to another’s information.
Diagnosing asthma remains difficult due to many overlapping symptoms with other chronic diseases.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
“Standardised questionnaires on asthma symptoms have therefore become the cornerstone of the large studies on asthma incidence or prevalence in adults8 and children.”
“However, there is no ongoing coordinated approach by government organisations to estimate the burden of asthma, and there are no plans for the WHO World Health Survey to be repeated.”
“Greater accuracy in reporting of asthma deaths would be desirable, especially in countries where asthma is under-recognised or confused with pneumonia, COPD or heart failure, and therefore under-reported.”
“Delivering effective asthma management extends beyond the availability of essential medicines; it also requires political commitment to improve asthma in populations, upto-date asthma guidelines, trained health care workers, standard case management and effective information systems.”
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?
The authors researched the methods in which asthma is currently measured in populations by looking at how standardized questionnaires are distributed as well as their results. They researched an alternative method called bronchial responsiveness testing.
The article based a substantial amount of their conclusions on findings from ISAAC, The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children. They use a standardized questionnaire that is accessible to people in countries with low incomes and different languages.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
I was confused about the information presented in the section titled: THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE: DEATHSAND DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
Most of the health disparities were addressed in this section. I didn’t understand what they were talking about as I felt as they were constantly switching their argument.
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
It was clear from the articles bibliography that the authors used a large amount of studies that had collected data about asthma already. They didn’t collect new data for this study, but rather it was a compilation of previous reported data. The authors referenced many of their previous published journal articles regarding asthma.
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?**
In the article, it mentions that the Global Asthma Network, a non-governmental organization which was established in 2012, has plans to regular collect asthma data on adults and children. This data will hopefully display asthma prevalence, severity, and risk factors. They also work to improve asthma management in order to reduce the burden of severe asthma.
The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood has collected data that has shown that asthma in children has increased significantly in the past two decades. The organization emphasizes the use to straightforward methods to understand the severity and prevalence of asthma and allergies between diverse populations.
The World Health Survey was mentioned repeatedly in the article as it seemed to be the only coordinate approach by a government body that the authors of the articles felt to be consistent and reliable. Unfortunately, the world health survey would not be repeated the following years, leaving holes in future data measuring.