Allergien und Lungenerkrankungen im Erwachsenenalter. Beitrag der deutschen Kohorten Hamburg und Erfurt zum Internationalen Projekt zu Atemwegserkrankungen

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The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) is a follow-up study on respiratory health, in particular asthma, allergy and lung function in the general population of adults from more than 20 countries in Europe and some other parts of the world. In Germany a random sample of 20-44 year old adults from Erfurt and Hamburg were examined first of all in the baseline study (ECRHS-I; 1990-1992) and then in the follow-up study (ECRHS-II; 2000-2002). The ECRHS is the only European study providing comprehensive data on respiratory health. It has led to the standardisation of epidemiological research methods of adult asthma and respiratory health. Additionally, the results provided information relevant for programme initiatives in many countries.The 20-year follow-up in the involved countries is supposed to analyse the temporal shift of asthma, allergy and lung function, as well as the association with new risk factors. The objectives of the follow-up are: (i) to describe the long-term development of asthma, rhinitis and sensitisation to allergens and to identify their environmental and genetic determinants; (ii) to quantify lung function decline and the incidence of COPD and their determinants; (iii) to describe the changes in asthma treatment on population and individual level and their influence on the prevalence of asthma symptoms.The German participation in the international follow-up study (ECRHS III) renders it possible to perform respiratory health research in adults on an internationally competetive level.