Exploring the role of information and communication technologies in allergic rhinitis in specialist centers: Patient perspectives on usefulness, value, and impact on healthcare.

INTRODUCTION: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) improve patient-centered care and are routinely used in Allergic Rhinitis (AR), but patients' preferences and attitudes are unexplored. This study examines AR-related information preferences and ICT use by AR patients. METHODS: A survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Ecuador from July to September 2019 in seven centers of reference for allergic disease. Participants were 18 years or older, diagnosed with AR and had access to ICT and the Internet. Descriptive and binomial logistic regressions were performed. A value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 217 patients were included. 47% (n = 102) used ICTs to learn about AR, of which 38.2% (n = 83) found it useful. Most of participants (75%, n = 164) did not think that ICTs reduce their need to see a doctor. Individuals with poorer quality of life were more likely to utilize ICTs to contact their doctor (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04-1.55), and more likely to be interested in AR-related content (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.00-1.52). Patients with long-term AR or other allergies were less likely to use ICTs (OR 0.92 and OR 0.40 respectively). Higher education and lower quality of life may increase AR apps adoption (OR 4.82, 95% CI 1.11-21.00). Academic preparation five-fold increased ICT use for health provider communication (OR 5.29, 95% CI 1.18-23.72). Mild-persistent AR enhanced the probabilities of using ICTs to share experiences and communicate with other patients (OR 12.59, 95% CI 1.32-120.35). CONCLUSIONS: Our study emphasizes the importance of tailoring digital resources to patient needs by considering factors such as quality of life, education, and specific subgroups within the AR patient population. Additionally, the findings suggest that while ICTs can play a valuable role in patient education and support, they should complement, rather than replace, traditional medical care for many AR patients.

Climate change and allergic diseases in children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The Anthropocene is used to describe the most recent period where major disruptions in Earth's system processes have resulted from humanity's increasing ecological footprint. Climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of good health, such as clean air, stable ecosystems, safe drinking water, and sufficient and safe food, and they seem to be closely related to air pollution. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to review the evidence of how extreme weather events and indoor and outdoor pollution are associated with insufficient lung growth in early life, changes in lung function, and the increase in respiratory infections, favoring the development of allergic respiratory diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-systematic review of English, Spanish, and Portuguese articles published in the last ten years in databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and SciELO. The terms used were air pollution OR climate changes OR smoke, AND health OR allergic disease. RESULTS: Climate change and air pollution are the leading contributors to health emergencies around the world. On a global scale, those most at risk of adverse health effects associated with climate change include children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. Climate change and air pollution have adverse impacts on respiratory allergies, and the mechanisms are complex and interactive. CONCLUSION: Health professionals must receive information and education necessary to establish effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize the effects of climate changes on the respiratory health of their patients.

Climate change and allergic diseases in children and adolescents

Introduction The Anthropocene is used to describe the most recent period where major disruptions in Earth’s system processes have resulted from humanity’s increasing ecological footprint. Climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of good health, such as clean air, stable ecosystems, safe drinking water, and sufficient and safe food, and they seem to be closely related to air pollution. Objectives This article aims to review the evidence of how extreme weather events and indoor and outdoor pollution are associated with insufficient lung growth in early life, changes in lung function, and the increase in respiratory infections, favoring the development of allergic respiratory diseases. Material and Methods Non-systematic review of English, Spanish, and Portuguese articles published in the last ten years in databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and SciELO. The terms used were air pollution OR climate changes OR smoke, AND health OR allergic disease. Results Climate change and air pollution are the leading contributors to health emergencies around the world. On a global scale, those most at risk of adverse health effects associated with climate change include children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. Climate change and air pollution have adverse impacts on respiratory allergies, and the mechanisms are complex and interactive. Conclusion Health professionals must receive information and education necessary to establish effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize the effects of climate changes on the respiratory health of their patients (AU)

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of chronic noninfectious respiratory diseases.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care across the world, not just by the severity of the disease and the high mortality rate but also by the consequences on the management of the patients with chronic diseases.Areas covered: This review summarizes the most up-to-date published data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcomes of patients with chronic noninfectious respiratory illnesses including obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, interstitial and pulmonary vascular diseases, and lung cancer.Expert opinion: Most of chronic respiratory diseases (except asthma and cystic fibrosis) are associated with more severe COVID-19 and poor outcomes but the mechanisms involved are not yet identified. The therapeutic management of the patients with chronic respiratory diseases and COVID-19 is similar to the other patients but the post-recovery course could be worse in this population and followed by the development of pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary hypertension. The pandemic highly impacted our usual medical activities by limiting the access to several diagnosis procedures, the necessity to develop new methods for the monitoring of the disease and adapt the therapeutic strategies. The long-term consequences of all these changes are still unknown.

Electronic Cigarettes and Their Impact on Allergic Respiratory Diseases: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Environmental Exposures and Respiratory Health Committee.

The explosive rise in popularity of electronic cigarette (e-cig) devices over the past decade has led to controversies over the role of these devices in smoking cessation and harm reduction from combustible cigarette smoking. Increased recognition of potential direct harms of e-cigs, including life-threatening and fatal cases of e-cig and vaping product use-associated lung injury, has emphasized the need to curb use until safety can be established. Of particular concern is the steep rise in e-cig use among teenagers and young adults who have never smoked and among individuals with underlying lung disease, such as asthma. In this report, we describe the different types of e-cig devices available, summarize the available data on the potential health benefits and detriments of e-cig use, and highlight the findings of studies examining e-cigs as smoking cessation tools. Because e-cigs have only gained popularity in the last few years, very few studies have been able to demonstrate an impact of e-cig use on harm reduction related to combustible cigarettes. Moreover, the health effects of e-cigs at a population level must be balanced against the harms of e-cig use, which include nicotine dependence and promoting initiation of cigarette use amongst "never smokers." With respect to smoking cessation, e-cigs appear to serve as switching products that may help individuals reduce or quit cigarette use, but do not address nicotine addiction. Finally, we discuss our recommendations for ways that health care providers can screen and counsel patients on e-cig use. The goal of this report is to provide health care providers with the most recent information on this topic so that they can educate patients on the potential pros and cons of e-cig use.