The prevalence of asthma among adult population In different geographical regions of Mongolia

Abstract

Background: The Global Asthma Network mentioned that asthma is a common chronic disease that is estimated to affect as many as 339 million people worldwide. The prevalence of asthma is projected to increase by 100 million by 2025. Researchers emphasized that allergies and bronchial asthma are increasing in our country. In 2010, the prevalence of current wheezing respiratory symptoms was 15.7% among adults and 20.9% among children aged 6-7 years, and 4.7% among diagnosed asthma. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and severity of asthma among adult population in different geographical regions of Mongolia. Materials and Methods: The subjects recruited for the survey consisted of randomly selected 748 of adults 18 years of age and over from Gobi-Altai and Arkhangai provinces. Adults consisted of approximately equal number of male and female. Questionnaire interview was conducted on all of subjects and lung function test of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC was conducted on all subjects. Current asthma was defined as wheezes and whistling for the past 12 months companied with at least one of specific asthma symptoms. Results: The survey covered a total of 748 adults, including 50 men (51.1%) and 48 women (48.9%) over 18 years of age. The prevalence of current asthma was 15.1% (95% CI: 14.7-16.8) in all survey subjects, 16.1% (95%CI: 13.3-17.2) in Gobi-Altai and 13.9% (95%CI: 11.2-16.3) in Arkhangai aimaks. The mean prevalence of diagnosed asthma among adults in all age group was 3.3-5.1% (95%CI: 3.3-5.6) in center of both aimaks, 2.3-3.7% (95%CI: 2.4-3.7) in sum. Approximately, 60% out of all diagnosed asthma were moderate to very severe subjects. We were defined asthma severity by FEV1 parameter of spirometry pulmonary function test and based on clinical manifestations. 6 (21.4%) in remission, 6 (21.4%) in mild, 10 (35.7%) in moderate, 3 (10.7%) in severe, 3 (10.7%) in very severe stage defined. Conclusions: 1. Prevalence of physician diagnosed asthma was almost two times increased in two decade and asthma seems to be under-diagnosed and consequently undertreated in countryside. Prevalence of current asthma was higher in subjects of center of aimaks. 2. The severity of diagnosed asthma was higher from moderate to very severe asthma in there.