Epidemiology of bronchial asthma among schoolboys in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study
Al-Dawood, K.
Croatian Medical Journal 41(4): 437-441
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0353-9504 PMID: 11063770 Document Number: 260202
Aim: To determine the prevalence of bronchial asthma among Saudi Arabian schoolboys living in Al-Khobar city. Methods: Parents of 1,482 randomly selected boys in preparatory and elementary schools included in this cross-sectional study filled out a questionnaire on asthma signs in their sons. Number of Questionnaire-Diagnosed Asthmatics was compared with the number of Physician-Diagnosed Asthmatics. Results: The prevalence rates of questionnaire-diagnosed asthma (QDA) and physician-diagnosed asthma (PDA) were 9.5% and 8.1%, respectively. Rates of allergic diseases were significantly higher among QDA schoolboys and their parents. They reported to be more exposed to allergenic environmental factors (pets at home, passive smoking) than non-QDA. Conclusion: The prevalence of QDA among schoolboys in Al-Khobar city is higher than the prevalence of QDA in other Arabian, developing, or European countries, but still lower than in other parts of Saudi Arabia. A combination of genetic and environmental factors may explain this finding.