Authors: Khadadah, M.¹; Mahboub, B.²; Al-Busaidi, N.H.³; Sliman, N.⁴; Soriano, J.B.⁵; Bahous, J.⁶

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 8, August 2009 , pp. 1015-1022(8)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Data on the burden of asthma and the quality of asthma control in the Gulf and Near East (GNE) are scarce.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how closely asthma management guidelines are being followed in the GNE.

METHODS: The Asthma Insights and Reality in the GNE (AIRGNE) survey is based on information from 1000 patients with asthma in five countries: Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

RESULTS: Daytime asthma symptoms were reported by 68% of respondents, and 51% reported being woken up by asthma in the preceding 4 weeks. Use of health services in the last 12 months was high, with 23% having been hospitalised and 52% having attended the emergency department. Absence from school and work in the past year was reported by 52% of children and 30% of adults. The highest school absence was observed in Jordan and Lebanon (both 69%), and Jordan had the highest rate of absence from work among adults (46%). The use of peak expiratory flow was very low, and only 17% owned a meter. Overall, 66% of participants had never undergone a lung function test.

CONCLUSION: Current levels of asthma control in the GNE fall far short of the goals specified in guidelines for asthma management.

Keywords: asthma; burden; Gulf and Near East; undertreatment

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait 2: University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 3: Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman 4: Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 5: Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Centro Internacional de Medicina Respiratoria Avanzada, Bunyola, Spain 6: University of Balamand, El-Koura, Lebanon

Publication date: 2009-08-01

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• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

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