Improved quality of care

Despite these observations, it appears that more than three quarters of patients undergoing long-term treatment (at least three payments in the year) used inhaled glucocorticoids.

This figure reflects an improvement in the quality of care for asthma because studies conducted in the early 1990s showed an under-use of these drugs in France, said Dr. Weill.

The study of the CNAM also indicates that 10.8% of 41.5 million insured under the general scheme (without staff or students) received in 2000 at least a refund of anti-asthma drugs

It appears that 8.3% of 15-44 year bought asthma medications while the prevalence (total number of cases per year) of asthma in young adults is estimated at about 5% in the reporting surveys.

This difference can be explained by an underestimation of asthma from declarative surveys, an increase in the prevalence of asthma-related in part to a better recognition of the disease and / or use of these drugs in other respiratory diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), said the medical officer.

However, COPD is a disease that develops late and little touches the young adult, which does not explain the difference, he noted.

For other age groups, the study confirms the one hand, the high use of asthma medications during early childhood (26%) and a decrease in use in over 45 years (10.7 %) and, secondly, a disparity requirements by region (from 7.8% to 13.8% of patients receiving refunds of anti-asthma).

Prescription anti-asthma drugs has increased sharply for several years in France. The amount of reimbursement by health insurance amounted to EUR 539 million in 2002, an increase of 9.7% compared to 2001, said Dr. Weill.

Perennial allergic rhinitis: focus on houseplants!

Indoor plants could be at the origin of goods ailments affecting people suffering from chronic allergic rhinitis, suggest the results of a Belgian study, published in the specialized "Allergy" journal. In industrialized countries, more than 40% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis, remember Dr. Olivier Michel, of the Free University of Brussels, and colleagues, noting also that the last twenty years the decorative plants are becoming more prevalent both in public places, workplaces and homes.

While the results of a study published in 1985 described for the first time Ficus benjamina, the most common indoor plants as a potential source of airborne allergens, Belgian researchers wanted to estimate the risk of sensitization to ornamental plants of patients with allergic rhinitis exposed to indoor plants at home.

They therefore sought, through a skin test, a possible sensitization to different plants especially popular in the salons (ficus, yucca, ivy, palm and geranium) in 59 people with allergic rhinitis and with a control group together fifteen healthy people.

The results of these skin tests showed sensitivity to at least one of the plants on this list in 78% of patients with allergic rhinitis, whereas this was the case no patients in the control group. Ficus benjamina and yucca plants have emerged as the most frequently involved (three cases each), ivy and palm trees (six cases each), while only two cases of geranium reactions have been identified.

Two patients in whom the measurement of specific IgE (antibodies suggestive of a situation allergy) was positive for Ficus benjamina saw their symptoms disappear and could suspend their treatment interrupted after exposure to this plant.

These results suggest that continuous and chronic exposure to potential allergy triggers could possibly lead to the development of sensitization. The fact that the eviction of the plant will result in a disappearance of symptoms in sensitized individuals confirms that aeroallergens from these plants could have a significant impact on the events of sneezing type and "runny nose."

If further studies are needed to confirm these results, it seems that houseplants can be considered as potential allergens located behind perennial allergic rhinitis, the authors conclude. According to them, "indoor plants should become part of the battery of skin tests in allergic patients who are exposed to."