Eur Respir J 2003; 21:827-833
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003
Prevalence and risk factors of asthma and wheezing among US adults: an analysis of the NHANES III data
A.A. Arif1,
G.L. Delclos2,
E.S. Lee2,
S.R. Tortolero2 and
L.W. Whitehead2
1 The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 2 The University of TexasHouston School of Public Health, TX, USA
CORRESPONDENCE: A. Arif, The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Department of Health Services Research and Management, 3601 4th Street MS 8161, Lubbock, TX79430, USA. Fax: 1 8067431292. E-mail: ahmed.arif@ttmc.ttuhsc.edu
Keywords: asthma, epidemiology, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III
Received: June 24, 2002
Accepted December 5, 2002
The prevalence of asthma has been on the increase in the USA and worldwide. To understand the worsening epidemiological trends of asthma, this study analysed the data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to determine the prevalence and risk factors for asthma and wheezing among US adults.
This analysis used data from 18,825 US adults aged 20 yrs who had participated in the NHANES III project. After excluding subjects with physiciandiagnosed emphysema, a total of 18,393 subjects were included in the final analysis.
The prevalence of current asthma (asthma) was 4.5% and the prevalence of wheezing in the previous 12 months (wheezing) was 16.4%. MexicanAmericans exhibited the lowest prevalence of asthma when compared with other race/ethnic groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that MexicanAmericans were less likely to report asthma when compared to nonHispanic whites. Low education level, female sex, current and past smoking status, pet ownership, lifetime diagnosis of physiciandiagnosed hay fever and obesity were all significantly associated with asthma and/or wheezing. No significant effect of indoor air pollutants, as derived from the use of household heating/cooking appliances, on asthma and wheezing was observed in this study.
In conclusion, this study observed racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma and wheezing and identified several important risk factors that may contribute to development and/or exacerbation of asthma and wheezing. Contrary to earlier reports, the proxy measures of indoor air pollution used in this study were not found to be associated with increased risk of asthma and wheezing.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Schmitz, J. Wang, A. Malla, and A. Lesage
The Impact of Psychological Distress on Functional Disability in Asthma: Results From The Canadian Community Health Survey
Psychosomatics,
January 1, 2009;
50(1):
42 - 49.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Torun, R. F. Heller, and A. Verma
Potential population impact of changes in heroin treatment and smoking prevalence rates: using Population Impact Measures
Eur J Public Health,
January 1, 2009;
19(1):
28 - 31.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Murugan and G Sharma
Obesity and respiratory diseases
Chronic Respiratory Disease,
November 1, 2008;
5(4):
233 - 242.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. E. Dixon, F. Yeh, T. K. Welty, E. R. Rhoades, E. T. Lee, B. V. Howard, P. L. Enright, and for the Strong Heart Study Research Group
Asthma in American Indian Adults: The Strong Heart Study
Chest,
May 1, 2007;
131(5):
1323 - 1330.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Choudhry, E. G. Burchard, L. N. Borrell, H. Tang, I. Gomez, M. Naqvi, S. Nazario, A. Torres, J. Casal, J. C. Martinez-Cruzado, et al.
Ancestry-Environment Interactions and Asthma Risk among Puerto Ricans
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
November 15, 2006;
174(10):
1088 - 1093.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. M. Davis, R. Kreutzer, M. Lipsett, G. King, and N. Shaikh
Asthma Prevalence in Hispanic and Asian American Ethnic Subgroups: Results From the California Healthy Kids Survey
Pediatrics,
August 1, 2006;
118(2):
e363 - e370.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V Flaherman and G W Rutherford
A meta-analysis of the effect of high weight on asthma
Arch. Dis. Child.,
April 1, 2006;
91(4):
334 - 339.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. Dejsomritrutai, A. Nana, N. Chierakul, J. Tscheikuna, S. Sompradeekul, P. Ruttanaumpawan, and S. Charoenratanakul
Prevalence of Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Asthma in the Adult Population in Thailand
Chest,
March 1, 2006;
129(3):
602 - 609.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. M. Hunninghake, S. T. Weiss, and J. C. Celedon
Asthma in Hispanics
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
January 15, 2006;
173(2):
143 - 163.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Holguin, D. M. Mannino, J. Anto, J. Mott, E. S. Ford, W. G. Teague, S. C. Redd, and I. Romieu
Country of Birth as a Risk Factor for Asthma among Mexican Americans
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
January 15, 2005;
171(2):
103 - 108.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Piipari, J.J.K. Jaakkola, N. Jaakkola, and M.S. Jaakkola
Smoking and asthma in adults
Eur. Respir. J.,
November 1, 2004;
24(5):
734 - 739.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. L. Hahn and M. B. Plane
Feasibility of a Practical Clinical Trial for Asthma Conducted in Primary Care
J Am Board Fam Med,
May 1, 2004;
17(3):
190 - 195.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2003 by the European Respiratory Society.
|