Pal R, Dahal S, Pal S. Prevalence of bronchial asthma in Indian children.
Indian J Community Med 2009;
34:310-6. [PMID:
20165624 PMCID:
PMC2822191 DOI:
10.4103/0970-0218.58389]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Accepted: 12/28/2008] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of childhood bronchial asthma and allergic disease has increased in developed countries. Studies have identified asthma among Indian children. Still, there is paucity of information on the overall prevalence of childhood asthma in India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess time trends and the overall prevalence rate of bronchial asthma among Indian children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Literature search for data sources was done through an extensive search in indexed literatures and website-based population survey reports. Fifteen epidemiological studies were identified on the development of asthma in Indian children from 300 potentially relevant articles. A broad criterion to define both allergic and non-allergic descriptions of asthma in Indian children was formed. Moreover, in the absence of universally accepted criteria by reporting of prevalence by researchers, weighted average data was considered during calculations of prevalence rates, irrespective of the criteria for diagnosis. Statistical analyses used were mean and median.
RESULTS
Wide differences in samples, primary outcome variables, lack of consistency in age category, rural-urban variation, criteria for positive diagnosis, and study instruments confounded the outcome variables. The mean prevalence was 7.24 +/- SD 5.42. The median prevalence was 4.75% [with IQR = 2.65 - 12.35%]. Overall weighted mean prevalence was found to be 2.74. Childhood asthma among children 13 - 14 years of age was lower than the younger children (6 - 7 years of age). Urban and male predominance with wide inter-regional variation in prevalence was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that the burden of bronchial asthma in Indian children is higher than was previously understood.
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