Yaqoob Masooma J, Aqroof Hadi A, Busehail Mohamed J, Abdali Noor M, Alkhayat Hasan A, Alasfoor Yusuf H, Alawi Sayed Mohamed E, Abdelsaid Mark M, Abdulla Mahmood A, Alshamlan Noor H, Husain Habib A
General Practice, Primary Healthcare Centers, Manama, BHR.
General Practice, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Apr 24;17(4):e82893. doi: 10.7759/cureus.82893. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition in children, particularly in the Middle East, where environmental and genetic factors contribute to its increasing burden. Indoor environmental exposures such as tobacco smoke, incense use, and carpeting are potential triggers that have not been thoroughly investigated in Saudi Arabia.
This study aims to assess the prevalence of asthma symptoms among school-aged children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and examine their association with specific environmental exposures and familial predisposition.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among children aged 6-14 years using a structured, parent-administered questionnaire. The survey collected data on asthma symptoms, physician diagnoses, household smoking, incense use, bedroom carpeting, air conditioning type, and family history of asthma. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify associations and independent predictors of wheezing in the past 12 months.
The prevalence of wheezing in the past 12 months was 21.5% (n = 212), and 18.6% (n = 183) of children had a physician diagnosis of asthma. Environmental exposures significantly associated with wheezing included indoor smoking (54.2% vs. 31.3%, p < 0.001; odds ratio (OR): 2.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-3.32), daily incense use (48.6% vs. 25.2%, p < 0.001; OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.44-3.05), and carpeting in the bedroom (69.3% vs. 48.2%, p < 0.001; OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.32-2.55). A family history of asthma also showed a strong association (59.4% vs. 27.5%, p < 0.001; OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 2.05-4.13). Central air conditioning was marginally associated with wheezing (65.1% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.042; OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.01-1.96).
This study demonstrates a notable prevalence of asthma symptoms among children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and identifies key environmental and familial risk factors. Household smoking, incense exposure, and carpeted bedrooms significantly increase the likelihood of asthma symptoms. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions and environmental modifications to mitigate asthma risk in vulnerable pediatric populations.
哮喘是儿童中一种常见的慢性呼吸道疾病，在中东地区尤为如此，该地区的环境和遗传因素导致其负担日益加重。诸如烟草烟雾、焚香使用和铺设地毯等室内环境暴露是潜在的触发因素，但在沙特阿拉伯尚未得到充分研究。
本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯东部省学龄儿童哮喘症状的患病率，并研究其与特定环境暴露和家族易感性之间的关联。
使用一份由家长填写的结构化问卷，对6至14岁的儿童进行了横断面调查。该调查收集了有关哮喘症状、医生诊断、家庭吸烟情况、焚香使用情况、卧室铺设地毯情况、空调类型以及哮喘家族史的数据。采用卡方检验和多因素逻辑回归分析来确定过去12个月内喘息的关联因素和独立预测因素。
过去12个月内喘息的患病率为21.5%（n = 212），18.6%（n = 183）的儿童被医生诊断为哮喘。与喘息显著相关的环境暴露因素包括室内吸烟（54.2% 对 31.3%，p < 0.001；优势比（OR）：2.34；95%置信区间（CI）：1.65 - 3.32）、每日焚香使用（48.6% 对 25.2%，p < 0.001；OR：2.10；95% CI：1.44 - 3.05）以及卧室铺设地毯（69.3% 对 48.2%，p < 0.001；OR：1.83；95% CI：1.32 - 2.55）。哮喘家族史也显示出很强的关联性（59.4% 对 27.5%，p < 0.001；OR：2.91；95% CI：2.05 - 4.13）。中央空调与喘息有微弱关联（65.1% 对 57.1%，p = 0.042；OR：1.41；95% CI：1.01 - 1.96）。
本研究表明沙特阿拉伯东部省儿童哮喘症状的患病率较高，并确定了关键的环境和家族风险因素。家庭吸烟、接触焚香和卧室铺设地毯显著增加了哮喘症状出现的可能性。这些发现凸显了有针对性的公共卫生干预措施和环境改善措施对于降低脆弱儿童群体哮喘风险的必要性。
