Arif Ahmed A, Rohrer James E, Delclos George L
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Department of Family & Community Medicine, Division of Public Health, Lubbock, TX, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2005 Sep 21;5:97. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-5-97.
The U.S. population is aging and is expected to double by the year 2030. The current study evaluated the prevalence of asthma and its correlates in the elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic white population.
Data from a sample of 3021 Hispanics and non-Hispanic White subjects, 65 years and older, interviewed as part of an ongoing cross-sectional study of the elderly in west Texas, were analyzed. The outcome variable was categorized into: no asthma (reference category), current asthma, and probable asthma. Polytomous logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the outcome variable and various socio-demographic measures, self-rated health, asthma symptoms, quality of life measures (SF-12), and various occupations.
The estimated prevalence of current asthma and probable asthma were 6.3% (95%CI: 5.3-7.2) and 9.0% (95%CI: 7.8-10.1) respectively. The majority of subjects with current asthma (Mean SF-12 score 35.8, 95%CI: 34.2-37.4) or probable asthma (35.3, 34.0-36.6) had significantly worse physical health-related quality of life as compared to subjects without asthma (42.6, 42.1-43.1). In multiple logistic regression analyses, women had a 1.64 times greater odds of current asthma (95%CI: 1.12-2.38) as compared to men. Hay fever was a strong predictor of both current and probable asthma. The odds of current asthma were 1.78 times (95%CI: 1.24-2.55) greater among past smokers; whereas the odds of probable asthma were 2.73 times (95%CI: 1.77-4.21) greater among current smokers as compared to non-smokers. Similarly fair/poor self rated health and complaints of severe pain were independently associated with current and probable asthma. The odds of current and probable asthma were almost two fold greater for obesity. When stratified by gender, the odds were significantly greater among females (p-value for interaction term = 0.038). The odds of current asthma were significantly greater for farm-related occupations (adjusted OR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.00-4.39); whereas the odds were significantly lower among those who reported teaching as their longest held occupation (adjusted OR = 0.36, 95%CI = 0.18-0.74).
This study found that asthma is a common medical condition in the elderly and it significantly impacts quality of life and general health status. Results support adopting an integrated approach in identifying and controlling asthma in this population.
美国人口正在老龄化，预计到2030年将翻倍。当前研究评估了老年西班牙裔和非西班牙裔白人人群中哮喘的患病率及其相关因素。
分析了来自3021名65岁及以上西班牙裔和非西班牙裔白人受试者的样本数据，这些数据是作为德克萨斯州西部老年人正在进行的横断面研究的一部分进行访谈得到的。结局变量分为：无哮喘（参照类别）、当前哮喘和可能哮喘。采用多分类逻辑回归分析来评估结局变量与各种社会人口学指标、自评健康状况、哮喘症状、生活质量指标（SF-12）以及各种职业之间的关系。
当前哮喘和可能哮喘的估计患病率分别为6.3%（95%置信区间：5.3 - 7.2）和9.0%（95%置信区间：7.8 - 10.1）。与无哮喘的受试者相比，大多数当前哮喘患者（SF-12平均得分35.8，95%置信区间：34.2 - 37.4）或可能哮喘患者（35.3，34.0 - 36.6）的身体健康相关生活质量明显更差（42.6，42.1 - 43.1）。在多因素逻辑回归分析中，女性患当前哮喘的几率是男性的1.64倍（95%置信区间：1.12 - 2.38）。花粉症是当前哮喘和可能哮喘的一个强有力的预测因素。既往吸烟者患当前哮喘的几率比非吸烟者高1.78倍（95%置信区间：1.24 - 2.55）；而当前吸烟者患可能哮喘的几率比非吸烟者高2.73倍（95%置信区间：1.77 - 4.21）。同样，自评健康状况一般/较差以及有严重疼痛主诉与当前哮喘和可能哮喘独立相关。肥胖者患当前哮喘和可能哮喘的几率几乎高出一倍。按性别分层时，女性的几率显著更高（交互项p值 = 0.038）。从事与农业相关职业的人患当前哮喘的几率显著更高（调整后比值比 = 2.09，95%置信区间：1.00 - 4.39）；而将教学作为其最长从事职业的人患当前哮喘的几率显著更低（调整后比值比 = 0.36，95%置信区间 = 0.18 - 0.74）。
本研究发现哮喘在老年人中是一种常见的病症，并且它对生活质量和总体健康状况有显著影响。研究结果支持在该人群中采用综合方法来识别和控制哮喘。
