Prevalence of current asthma and COPD, and their overlap in adults in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Abstract

Background: Survey of prevalence of asthma and COPD using international methods has not been carried out in Cambodia. Asthma is described as a risk factor of COPD. Aim of this survey was to know the prevalence of asthma and COPD in Cambodia, and their overlap in adults 40 years and over. Subjects: Randomly recruited 1,365 of adults 20 years of age and over (male: 625, female: 740), out of them 660 adults 40 years and over (male 308,female:352). Methods: Diagnosis of current asthma: Current asthma was defined as wheezes or whistling for the past 12 months companied with at least one of asthma-specific symptoms (ECRHS questionnaires). Diagnosis of COPD: COPD was defined as FEV1/FVC<0.7 after inhalation of salbutamol and age 40 years and over. Results: 1. Current asthmaThe prevlaence of current asthma was 5.5 %( 95% CI: 4.9-6.2%) in all, 6.8 %( 95% CI: 5.8-7.9%) in male and 4.5 %( 95% CI: 3.8-5.3%) in female.The prevalence of 12 months wheezing in adults 20-44 years was 3.9% in all, 5.1% in male, and 2.8% in female (Criteria of ECRHS). 2 COPD: Prevalence of COPD was 2.3% (95% CI: 1.8-2.9) in all, 3.6% (95% CI: 2.6-4.7) in male, and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.7-1.8) in female. 3. Overlap of COPD in current asthma patients 40 years and over. Rate of overlap of COPD in current asthma patients vs. non-asthma control was 13.5% vs. 1.3% in all, 20.3% vs. 1.8% in male and 3.0% vs. 0.9% in female, respectively. The difference was significant in all and male groups. Discussion and conclusion: Prevalences of both of asthma and COPD were low as compared to other developed countries. Prevalence of COPD was about 10 times more in middle-aged individuals with wheezing as compared to non-wheezers.