Risk factors associated with asthma among adults in Khuzestan, southwest Iran

Abstract

IntroductionThere is limited information on the risk factors of epidemiological of bronchial asthma in adults. This research aims at studying the risk factors associated with asthma in adults. MethodsThe validated European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire was used to conduct a field study on adults aged 20–65 years old in Khuzestan province, Iran. For this, the researchers used a two-stage cluster sampling method. Univariate and multiple logistic regression modeling were used to obtain odds ratio of potential risk factors. ResultsThe researchers handed out 5720 questionnaires of which 5708 were filled in. 231 cases of 478 individuals with asthma were male. The results showed that having airway hyper responsiveness (OR = 13.52; 95% CI: 9.61–19.02), having a family history of asthma (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 2.23–3.71), residence in urban areas (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.43–3.21), the presence of mildew in the building (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.29–2.92) and the location of the house in the main street with respect to the auxiliary road (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.14–1.82), respectively, were the most potent risk factors for asthma in adults. However, the presence of dense green space in the 200-m radius of the residential home (OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.30–2.20) and home gardening (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.12–1.80) are the most important protection factors against asthma. ConclusionsThis study showed the association between some environmental factors with the odds of having asthma. These factors can be considered in primary prevention programs for asthma.