Rising and falling prevalence of asthma symptoms

Abstract

Asthma is the leading chronic disease in children, affecting 5·1 million children in the USA. 1 Asthma and Allergy Foundation of AmericaAsthma facts and figures. https://www.aafa.org/asthma-factsDate: 2021 Date accessed: July 13, 2021 Google Scholar However, worldwide important variations have been reported in asthma prevalence. In The Lancet, Innes Asher and colleagues report findings from the Global Asthma Network (GAN), assessing global changes in asthma prevalence over the past three decades, with use of similar, standardised methods as the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). 2 Asher MI Rutter CE Bissell K et al. Worldwide trends in the burden of asthma symptoms in school-aged children: Global Asthma Network Phase I cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2021; 398: 1569-1580 Google Scholar Using centres that completed GAN Phase I and ISAAC Phase I (1993–95), ISAAC Phase III (2001–03), or both, the authors assessed the global prevalence and the 10-yearly change in prevalence of current wheeze, severe asthma symptoms, asthma ever, exercise wheeze, and night cough (defined by four core questions in a questionnaire). The study included data from questionnaires filled by almost 120 000 adolescents (aged 13–14 years) and school-aged children (aged 6–7 years) from 27 centres in 14 countries. Worldwide trends in the burden of asthma symptoms in school-aged children: Global Asthma Network Phase I cross-sectional studyTrends in prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms over the past three decades varied by age group, country income, region, and centre. The high worldwide burden of severe asthma symptoms would be mitigated by enabling access to effective therapies for asthma. Full-Text PDF Open Access