Ng T P, Hui K P, Tan W C
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Thorax. 1994 Apr;49(4):347-51. doi: 10.1136/thx.49.4.347.
The prevalence and morbidity of asthma vary greatly among different ethnic communities and geographical locations, but the roles of environmental and genetic factors are not fully understood. The differences in prevalence of adult asthma among Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnic groups in Singapore were examined, and the extent to which these could be explained by personal and environmental factors were investigated.
A stratified disproportionate random sample (n = 2868) of Chinese (n = 1018), Malays (n = 967), and Indians (n = 883) of both sexes was drawn from households in five public housing estates, and an interviewer administered questionnaire was used to determine cumulative and current prevalence of "physician diagnosed asthma" (symptoms with a physician diagnosis of asthma).
Lifetime cumulative prevalence (standardised to the general population) of "physician diagnosed asthma" was 4.7% in men and 4.3% in women; 12 month period prevalences were 2.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Cumulative prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in Indians (6.6%) and Malays (6.0%) than in Chinese (3.0%); period prevalences of asthma were 4.5% in Indians, 3.3% in Malays, and 0.9% in Chinese. Ownership of cats or dogs was more frequent in Malays (15.4%) and Indians (11.2%) than in Chinese (8.8%). Rugs and carpets were also more frequently used by Malays (52.2%) and Indians (40.7%) than by Chinese (8.9%). Current smoking prevalences were higher in Malays (27.3%) than in Indians (19.4%) and Chinese (23.0%). Malays and Indians did not have higher rates of atopy (11.1% and 15.2%, respectively) than Chinese (15.4%). Adjustment for these factors in multivariate analyses reduced the greater odds of asthma in Malays and Indians, but not to a significant extent.
There are ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma in Singapore which are not entirely explained by differences in smoking, atopy, or other risk factors. Other unmeasured environmental factors or genetic influences are likely to account for residual differences in the prevalence of asthma.
哮喘的患病率和发病率在不同种族群体和地理位置之间差异很大，但环境和遗传因素的作用尚未完全明确。本研究调查了新加坡华人、马来人和印度人成年哮喘患病率的差异，并探讨了个人和环境因素对这些差异的解释程度。
从五个公共屋邨的家庭中抽取了一个分层非比例随机样本（n = 2868），其中华人（n = 1018）、马来人（n = 967）和印度人（n = 883）各有男女若干。通过访员管理的问卷来确定“医生诊断的哮喘”（有医生诊断为哮喘的症状）的累积患病率和当前患病率。
“医生诊断的哮喘”的终生累积患病率（标准化至一般人群）男性为4.7%，女性为4.3%；12个月期间患病率分别为2.4%和2.0%。印度人（6.6%）和马来人（6.0%）的哮喘累积患病率显著高于华人（3.0%）；印度人的哮喘期间患病率为4.5%，马来人为3.3%，华人为0.9%。马来人（15.4%）和印度人（11.2%）养猫或狗的比例高于华人（8.8%）。马来人（52.2%）和印度人（40.7%）使用地毯的频率也高于华人（8.9%）。当前吸烟率马来人（27.3%）高于印度人（19.4%）和华人（23.0%）。马来人和印度人的特应性发生率（分别为11.1%和15.2%）并不高于华人（15.4%）。多因素分析中对这些因素进行调整后，降低了马来人和印度人患哮喘的较高几率，但降幅不显著。
新加坡哮喘患病率存在种族差异，吸烟、特应性或其他危险因素的差异并不能完全解释这些差异。其他未测量的环境因素或遗传影响可能是哮喘患病率残留差异的原因。
