European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY OF RISK FACTORS AND PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN BAGHDAD

*Dr. Adel Al-Shammari, M. B. Ch. B, M.Sc.EM.ATL.SACLS.ICRC

ABSTRACT

Asthma is a serious disease affecting the respiratory system leading to airway limitation, cough and wheezing. Asthma prevalence in adults is globally increasing with variations between and within countries. Data are lacking regarding the prevalence of asthma among adults in Baghdad-Iraq. Our study aimed to determine the risk factors and prevalence of asthma symptoms in Baghdad university students. A cross-sectional study was performed among Baghdad University students during the academic year 2016–2017. A modified translated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was distributed among Baghdad university students, males and females whose ages were ≥18 years and living in Baghdad for more than 1 year, and samples were taken using multistage random sampling. A total of 200 participants (128 males and 72 females) with a mean age of 21.50 ± 2.56 years were included in the study. The prevalence of asthma depending on the wheezing symptom in the past 12 months was 23% and physician-diagnosed asthma was 11.3%. Most of the asthmatic subjects (>82%) have intermittent symptoms. The first-degree family history, active tobacco smoking, allergic rhinitis (AR), smoke and eczema were the major risk factors for asthma symptoms. In conclusion, the study revealed a high prevalence of self-reported asthma symptoms among adults among Baghdad university students associated with a high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR), which needs a particular attention by the health stakeholders.

Keywords: Asthma, Risk factors, Prevalence, Symptoms.