Khan Sujoy, Roy Anil, Christopher D J, Cherian A M
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004.
J Indian Med Assoc. 2002 Nov;100(11):643-4, 655.
Asthma and related allergic disorders are reported to be rare in poor and developing countries and their prevalence is expected to rise with urbanisation. Investigation was carried to see the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms by using a simple questionnaire-based data collection. One hundred and twenty bank employees were studied in the age group 25-55 years in 4 centres of Vellore town. A one-page questionnaire in English regarding asthma and allergic symptoms was used to assess the prevalence and the details of medical care utilisation by those who were asthmatics. The prevalence of self-reported bronchial asthma was 8.3% and that of asthma-related symptoms 15.8%. A significant number of subjects with symptoms suggestive of asthma self-reported themselves as non-asthmatic. There was a significant association between those who had symptoms of asthma and a positive family history of asthma. Most of the asthmatic subjects using allopathic medicines reported a poor quality of life, despite treatment. The prevalence of asthma in Vellore town is more than that reported in other studies carried out at different centres in India. The prevalence may actually be higher since a significant number of subjects with symptoms suggestive of asthma reported themselves as non-asthmatic subjects. As expected, positive family history was forthcoming in subjects with asthma symptoms. Most asthmatic subjects have not experienced a significant improvement in their quality of life, which could indicate sub-optimal management. These findings can form the basis for further studies to investigate factors that lead to these variations.
据报道，哮喘及相关过敏性疾病在贫穷国家和发展中国家较为罕见，且预计其患病率会随着城市化进程而上升。我们通过基于简单问卷的数据收集方式，对哮喘及哮喘相关症状的患病率展开调查。在韦洛尔镇的4个中心，对120名年龄在25至55岁之间的银行员工进行了研究。使用一份关于哮喘和过敏症状的英文单页问卷，来评估哮喘患者的患病率以及医疗服务利用的详细情况。自我报告的支气管哮喘患病率为8.3%，哮喘相关症状的患病率为15.8%。相当一部分有哮喘症状的受试者自我报告为非哮喘患者。有哮喘症状的人与哮喘家族史呈显著关联。尽管接受了治疗，但大多数使用西医药物的哮喘患者报告生活质量较差。韦洛尔镇的哮喘患病率高于印度其他不同中心开展的研究报告结果。实际患病率可能更高，因为相当一部分有哮喘症状的受试者将自己报告为非哮喘患者。正如预期的那样，有哮喘症状的受试者出现了阳性家族史。大多数哮喘患者的生活质量并未得到显著改善，这可能表明管理不够理想。这些发现可为进一步研究导致这些差异的因素奠定基础。
