Asthma Epidemiology & Etiology

IM Epidemiology

• Bronchial Asthma affects 300 million people world wide
• Genetic and environmental factors are important

Occupational Asthma

Most frequently reported causative agents

• Isocyanates
• Flour and grain dust
• Colophony and fluxes
• Latex
• Animals
• Aldehydes
• Wood dust

Workers most commonly reported to occupational asthma schemes

• Paint sprayers
• Bakers and pastry-makers
• Nurses
• Chemical workers
• Animal handlers
• Welders
• Food processing workers
• Timber workers

How to Diagnose Occupational Asthma?

• Record PEF- 2 hourly
• Skin prick test
• Specific IgE test
• Bronchial provocation test with suspected agent

Peak Flow Reading in Occupational Asthma

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FM Epidemiology

• Epidemiological studies in Saudi Arabia revealed an increasing prevalence of asthma in the past three decades, which may be attributed to rapid lifestyle changes related to the modernization of Saudi society, changes in dietary habits, and exposure to environmental factors such as indoor allergens, dust, sand storms, and tobacco.

• Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide with an estimation of 300 million affected individuals.

• Prevalence is increasing in many countries, especially among children.

• A major cause of school/work absence.

• 250,000 asthma deaths per year reported worldwide.

Asthma in Saudi Arabia

• It is one of the most common chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia.

• According to Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA), BA affecting more than 2 million Saudis.

• Its impact is manifested in patients, their families, and the community as a whole in terms of:

  1. Lost work and school days
  2. Poor quality of life
  3. Frequent emergency department visits
  4. Hospitalizations
  5. Deaths

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Thera

Burden (epidemiology) of Asthma

• Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide with an estimated 300 million affected individuals
• Prevalence increasing in many countries, especially in children
• A major cause of school/work absence
• Wide variation in disease incidence and prevalence allover the world.
• The prevalence of the disease is increasing worldwide over the last few decades.