[European Asthma Study. Identifying and treating young adults with epidemiological criteria for asthma in five areas of Spain. Spanish Group of the European Asthma Study].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Asthma's great impact on public health stems from its chronicity and to high prevalence among all age groups and both sexes. To estimate the appropriateness of treatment and management of asthma in Spain during the period of 1991 and 1992, we analyzed data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).

METHOD

The ECRHS was undertaken with a random sample of 20-to-44-year-olds in Albacete, Barcelona, Galdakao, Huelva and Oviedo. In total, 181 individuals with asthma were identified. Current asthma was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms associated with asthma within the past 12 months and a positive methacholine challenge test.

RESULTS

Subjects who were unaware of having asthma made up 57.5% (CI: 49.9-64.8%), and 35.9% (CI: 27.9-42.3%) were not following any specific treatment. Among asthmatics who reported having continuous or frequent respiratory symptoms, 25.9% (CI: 15.3-39.0%) were not following any treatment.

CONCLUSION

Over half the individuals with asthma in 1991 to 1993 were unaware of having the disease at the time of the study or of ever having had it, and approximately one third were not in treatment. The delivery of appropriate treatment in asthma generally, and in asthma with continuous or frequent respiratory symptoms, was markedly inadequate during the period studied.