What is ECRHS I?

The study was developed in response to the increasing mortality rates associated with asthma in many parts of Europe and elsewhere in the mid 1980s. Also, around this time, evidence emerged of an increase in the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease. Co-ordination of the study was funded by the European Commission, and local data collection by a number of grants. (See the link to Funding.)

Young adults aged between 20 and 44 years were selected at random from available population based registers to take part in the survey - the database of ECRHS I contains information from around 140,000 individuals. Fifty six centres across Europe and other parts of the world from 25 countries took part. Each centre recruited about 300 men and 300 women for a detailed assessment of symptoms (respiratory symptoms, nasal symptoms, asthma), factors known or hypothesised to be of importance for allergy and allergic disease (family size, family history of disease, occupation, childhood and current exposure to pets, exposure to tobacco smoke, dampness, ventilation, use of soft furnishings, use of gas appliances) and use of health services and treatment (including use of inhaled steroids) for respiratory disease.

During a clinical examination blood was taken for measurement of specific IgE to house dust mite, cat, grass and Cladosporium (mould) and total IgE. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and bronchial reactivity to methacholine were measured. In addition, each centre also assessed a sample of about 150 adults with symptoms highly suggestive of asthma. Click on Publications to see a list of all ECRHS published papers.

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Fifty six centres from 25 countries took part in stage 1 of ECRHS I, and 45 in at least part of stage 2.

Main Aims:

• Estimate variation in prevalence of asthma, asthma-like symptoms, atopic sensitisation and BR

• Estimate variation in exposure to known or suspected risk factors for asthma and assess how they

• explain variation across Europe

• Estimate variation in treatment for asthma in Europe

• List of principal participants in ECRHS I

During a clinical examination blood was taken for measurement of specific IgE to house dust mite, cat, grass and Cladosporium (mould) and total IgE. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and bronchial reactivity to methacholine were measured. In addition, each centre also assessed a sample of about 150 adults with symptoms highly suggestive of asthma.

The maps below detail the prevalence of asthma, the prevalence of atopy and the distribution of bronchial hyper-responsiveness based on data collected in ECRHS I. Complete information was not available for all centres.