Mirza Tariq A, Fillimban Abdulwahab, Maimini Othman, Khiyat Emad Y, Dhafar Khalid O, Farooq Mian U, Gazzaz Zohair J
King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2011 Oct;121(10):327-31.
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) is one of the largest gatherings in the world and thus its participants are exposed to various communicable and noncommunicable diseases. This provides an opportunity to study travel epidemiology.
The aim of the study was to estimate the predictors of asthma severity during the Hajj.
The study cohort was recruited from patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of the King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, between December 3 and 18, 2008 (5-20 Dhul-Hijjah 1429 H). We included newly diagnosed and previously documented cases presenting with asthma symptoms. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and the risk factors were assessed. The severity of asthma exacerbation was measured according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software.
The study involved 58 subjects, including 38 women (65.5%). There were 27 subjects (46.6%) with mild asthma attack, 18 (31%) with moderate asthma attack, and no cases with life-threatening asthma. Insignificantly increased risk of severe asthma attack was observed in the following groups: women, people aged 46-60 years, pilgrims (hajis) who did not belong to a hajj group, non-hajis, illiterates, and nonsmokers - the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 3.7 (0.7-18.5), 1.7 (0.5-6.3), 2.4 (0.7-8.5), 5.1 (0.6-44.1), 2.3 (0.7-9.1), and 2.0 (0.4-10.4), respectively. Forty-six subjects (79.3%) had a history of allergy to components of smoke, detergents, dust, animal dander, and perfumes, while only 5 patients (8.6%) had drug allergy. High risk of severe asthma was observed in subjects with a history of drug allergy, as well as in obese subjects and those who often presented to the ED - OR (95% CI) was 6.5 (0.9-43.9), 18.0 (4.0-80.7), and 3.1 (0.8-11.5), respectively.
Higher risk of severe asthma attack was observed in women, people aged 46-60 years, hajis who did not belong to a hajj group, non-hajis, illiterates, nonsmokers, obese patients, and those who often presented to the ED within the previous 12 months due to asthma exacerbation.
每年前往麦加的朝圣之旅（朝觐）是世界上规模最大的集会之一，因此其参与者会接触到各种传染病和非传染病。这为研究旅行流行病学提供了一个机会。
本研究的目的是评估朝觐期间哮喘严重程度的预测因素。
研究队列招募自2008年12月3日至18日（回历1429年12月5日至20日）在沙特阿拉伯麦加阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹国王医院急诊科就诊的患者。我们纳入了新诊断的以及之前有记录的出现哮喘症状的病例。收集了社会人口统计学和临床数据，并对危险因素进行了评估。根据美国国立心肺血液研究所的指南来衡量哮喘加重的严重程度。使用SPSS软件对数据进行分析。
该研究涉及58名受试者，其中38名女性（65.5%）。有27名受试者（46.6%）出现轻度哮喘发作，18名（31%）出现中度哮喘发作，没有出现危及生命的哮喘病例。在以下几组中观察到严重哮喘发作风险有非显著性增加：女性、46 - 60岁的人群、不属于朝觐团的朝圣者（哈吉）、非哈吉、文盲以及不吸烟者——优势比（OR）（95%置信区间[CI]）分别为3.7（0.7 - 18.5）、1.7（0.5 - 6.3）、2.4（0.7 - 8.5）、5.1（0.6 - 44.1）、2.3（0.7 - 9.1）和2.0（0.4 - 10.4）。46名受试者（79.3%）有对烟雾、洗涤剂、灰尘、动物皮屑和香水成分过敏的病史，而只有5名患者（8.6%）有药物过敏史。在有药物过敏史的受试者以及肥胖受试者和经常前往急诊科的受试者中观察到严重哮喘的高风险——OR（95%CI）分别为6.5（0.9 - 43.9）、18.0（4.0 - 80.7）和3.1（0.8 - 11.5）。
在女性、46 - 60岁的人群、不属于朝觐团的哈吉、非哈吉、文盲、不吸烟者、肥胖患者以及那些在过去12个月内因哮喘加重而经常前往急诊科的患者中观察到严重哮喘发作的风险更高。
