Al Frayh A R, Shakoor Z, Gad El Rab M O, Hasnain S M
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001 Mar;86(3):292-6. doi: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)63301-7.
Bronchial asthma is among the most common chronic illnesses of childhood. A number of reports in the recent past suggest that the prevalence of asthma is increasing globally.
To investigate the changing prevalence of asthma in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Two populations of schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 16 years were studied using an internationally designed protocol in 1986 and 1995. The questionnaire used in these studies was very similar to the one used in the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood. A total of 2,123 school-children in 1986 (Jeddah and Riyadh) and 1,008 schoolchildren in 1995 (Hail and Gizan) were enrolled in the surveys. These cross-sectional studies of randomly selected schoolchildren were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and a Z test.
The comparison of data between Riyadh versus Hail (inland desert dry environment) and Jeddah versus Gizan (coastal humid environment) revealed that the prevalence of asthma in the similar populations increased significantly from 8% in 1986 to 23% in 1995 (P < .0001). Likewise, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis also increased from 20% to 25% (P < .003) since 1986. However, no significant change in the prevalence of eczema (from 12% to 13%) was noted between 1986 and 1995.
The study indicates that there was a significant increase in the prevalence of bronchial asthma and, to a lesser extent, in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this 9-year period. The study also revealed increased exposure to environmental factors such as tobacco smoke and indoor animals in Saudi houses. It seems that the continuing changes in contemporary life may well have contributed to the increased prevalence of asthma in the country.
支气管哮喘是儿童期最常见的慢性病之一。近期的一些报告表明，全球哮喘患病率正在上升。
调查沙特阿拉伯王国哮喘患病率的变化情况。
1986年和1995年，采用国际设计的方案对两组8至16岁的学童进行了研究。这些研究中使用的问卷与《儿童过敏与哮喘国际研究》中使用的问卷非常相似。1986年共有2123名学童（吉达和利雅得），1995年有1008名学童（海勒和吉赞）参与了调查。对这些随机选取的学童进行的横断面研究采用方差分析和Z检验进行统计分析。
利雅得与海勒（内陆沙漠干燥环境）以及吉达与吉赞（沿海潮湿环境）之间的数据比较显示，相似人群中哮喘患病率从1986年的8%显著上升至1995年的23%（P <.0001）。同样，自1986年以来，过敏性鼻炎的患病率也从20%上升至25%（P <.003）。然而，1986年至1995年间，湿疹患病率（从12%至13%）没有显著变化。
该研究表明，在这9年期间，沙特阿拉伯王国支气管哮喘患病率显著上升，过敏性鼻炎患病率也有一定程度上升。该研究还揭示，沙特家庭中接触烟草烟雾和室内动物等环境因素的情况有所增加。当代生活的持续变化似乎很可能导致了该国哮喘患病率的上升。
