Local Publications
The following publications used ISAAC data from the Valencia centre:
- Morales Suárez-Varela MM, González AL, Martínez Selva MI. Socioeconomic risk factors in the prevalence of asthma and other atopic diseases in children 6 to 7 years old in Valencia Spain. Eur J Epidemiol 1999; 15(1): 35-40.
- García-Marcos L, Ruiz TR, García-Hernández G, Morales Suárez-Varela MM, Valverde-Molina J, Sánchez-Solis M. Asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis comorbidity: United airway disease or inherited target organs? Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010; 21 (1): e142-e148. E pub 7 Apr 2009.
- Morales Suárez-Varela MM, García-Marcos AL, González DC, et al. Prevalence of atopic eczema and nutritional factors in 6-7 year old children.[article in spanish]. Aten Primaria 2007; 39(7):355-360.
- Arnedo-Pena A, García-Marcos L, Fernández-Espinar JF, Bercedo-Sanz A, Aguinaga-Ontoso I, González-Díaz C, Carvajal-Urueña I, Busquet-Monge R, Suárez-Varela MM, de Andoín NG, Batlles-Garrido J, Blanco-Quirós A, López-Silvarrey Varela A, García-Hernández G. Sunny hours and variations in the prevalence of asthma in schoolchildren according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies (ISAAC) Phase III in Spain. Int J Biometeorol 2011; 55(3): 423-434
Valencia Centre
| Phase OneView Centre Details | Phase TwoView Centre Details | Phase Three | |||
| Centre: | Valencia, Spain ( Western Europe ) | ||||
| Principal Investigator: | Professor Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela | ||||
| Age Groups: | 13-14, 6-7 | Timeframe: | June 2002 to December 2002 | ||
| Sampling Frame: | All schools in Valencian City area. Same Sampling frame used in Phase One. | ||||
Personnel
Professor Maria M. Morales Suárez-Varela
Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health
Unit of Public Health, Hygiene, and Environmental care
Department of Preventive Medicine,
University of Valencia,
Spain
Roles:
- Phase One Principal Investigator for Valencia
- Phase Two Principal Investigator for Valencia
- Phase Three Principal Investigator for Valencia
Why was this centre selected for ISAAC?
The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) (ISAAC Group 1998) revealed substantial regional and seasonal variations in the frequency of atopic diseases. A potential role of climatic conditions in the aetiology of atopic diseases has long been suspected. Some studies on the effects of climate have investigated the association of variations in climate or meteorological conditions with the occurrence or severity of symptoms of atopic diseases (Charpin et al. 1988, 1991; Vocks et al. 2001; Weiland et al. 2004). In Spain, there are three climactic regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Continental) and a homogeneous population. Valencia is a Mediterranean region, which can be compared with the different climatic areas of Spain with the standardised methodology of ISAAC.
Our experience of ISAAC
In the study area (Valencia), there were 286 schools for schoolchildren aged 6-7 and 13-14 years. Of the 286 schools, 98 participated in the ISAAC study.
References
- ISAAC (1998) The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Steering Committee. Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC. Lancet 1998 351: 1225-1232.
- Charpin D, Kleisbauer J, Lanteaume A (1988) Asthma and allergy to house dust mites in populations living in high altitudes. Chest 93: 758-761
- Charpin D, Birnbaum J, Haddi E (1991) Altitude and allergy to house dust mites. Am Rev Respir Dis 143: 983-986
- Vocks E, Busch R, Frohlich C, Borelli S, Mayer H, Ring J (2001) Influence of weather and climate on subjective symptom intensity in atopic eczema. Int J Biometeorol 45: 27-33
- Weiland SK, Hüsing A, Strachan DP, Rzehak P, Pearce N (2004) Climate and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in children. Occup Environ Med 61: 609-615
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, the International Luis Vives Rotary Foundation (Valencia), the General Public Health Office of the Regional Valencian Government and all the parents who kindly participated and gave us some of their time.
