RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Burden of asthma among children in a developing megacity: Childhood asthma study, Pakistan
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA1138
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1138
VO 46
IS suppl 59
A1 Sahito, Ambreen
A1 Khan, Adeel Ahmed
A1 Tanzil, Sana
A1 Jamali, Tanzil
A1 Shahid, Afshan
A1 Naeem, Shahla
A1 Siddiqui, Fraz Anwar
A1 Nafees, Asaad Ahmed
A1 Fatmi, Zafar
YR 2015
UL https://publications.ersnet.org//content/46/suppl_59/PA1138.abstract
AB Background: Global burden of childhood asthma has increased in the last few decades particularly in low-income countries. In Pakistan there is a lack of community based epidemiological studies estimating the burden of asthma among children.Objective: This study determined the prevalence and predictors of asthma among children 3-17 years of age in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A two-stage community based representative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karachi from March 2012-April 2013 comprising 1046 children aged 3-17 years.Out of 7500 clusters, 80 were randomly selected and out of these 15 children per cluster were enrolled randomly. A translated and pre-tested version of ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children) questionnaire was administered.Results: The overall prevalence of asthma among study participants was 10.2% (95% CI: 8.4-12.0). Asthma was more likely to occur among boys (adj. OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-4.0), children in the younger age group (3-7 years) (adj. OR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.7-4.8), those living in households with ill-ventilated kitchens (adj. OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1), having family history of asthma (adj. OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3-3.9) and those of the Sindhi ethnicity (adj. OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.4).Conclusion: This study is the first robust evidence regarding asthma among children in Pakistan, reporting a high burden in this group. Family history, male gender, Sindhi ethnicity and ill-ventilated kitchen were identified as important predictors of asthma. Targeted preventive measures and further intervention studies are required to better understand and reduce the burden of asthma among children in Pakistan.