Prevalence and Geographic Distribution Pattern of Asthma in Tehran by ECRHS.

BACKGROUND: Asthma, involving 5-10% of global population, has a heterogeneous distribution in the community regardless of age and its prevalence and incidence tend to grow worldwide as reported by many recent epidemiologic surveys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study aimed to survey the prevalence of asthma symptoms in Tehran as the first attempt in terms of situation analysis of the disease in the Iranian society by using relevant parts of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire.

RESULTS: Wheezing was reported in 48% of males and 34% of females in the age range of 20-44 years, around 50% of which was associated with breathlessness or cold., the people who answered "yes" to the questions 1 (wheezing), 4 (coughing), 5 (asthma history) or 7 (nasal allergy) were totally 211 among whom 124 (58.8%) were males and the rest (41.2%) were females.

CONCLUSION: Asthma symptoms decrease the quality of life and impose high costs on the healthcare system in many countries. A low rate of participants had been informed about their asthma by physicians and not all of them were taking medications. Risk factor analysis and control is strongly advised in order to lessen the prevalence of the disease and symptoms. Air pollution, smoking, unhealthy life style and many personal and social factors need to be assessed and eliminated. It seems that a- second phase- ECRH survey should be conducted to assess the situation of asthma through population of Tehran.