Unit:
Faculty of MedicineLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Benidis Kleomenis
Dissertation committee:
Νικολέττα Ροβίνα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Κουλούρης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Πέτρος Μπακάκος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Στυλιανός Λουκίδης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παρασκευή Κατσαούνου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος Πορπόδης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΑΠΘ
Ανδριάνα Παπαιωάννου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Επιδημιολογική μελέτη για τον προσδιορισμό του επιπολασμού του βρογχικού άσθματος σε ενήλικες στην Κύπρο
Translated title:
Prevalence of bronchial asthma in adults in Cyprus
Summary:
Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic disease, characterized by airway inflammation. Asthma is a common disease affecting 1–18% of the population in different countries. Until now there are not available data for the prevalence of asthma in adults in Cyprus. There are data from surveys for children and population younger than 18 year-old .
Aim: The aim of the current study is to estimate the prevalence of asthma in adults by gender, age and urban/rural living groups in Cyprus.
Method: The study was performed in 1914 participants selected between 8996 individuals (A random-digit telephone dialing was used, and more than 8900 telephone calls were attempted). The 8996 individuals were selected randomly covering the five major areas of Cyprus, urban and rural regions. Inclusion criteria was: age ≥18 years old. The participants answered a short screening questionnaire of 12 questions and a main questionnaire of 47 questions. All they underwent pre and post brochodilatatory lung function tests after the inhalation of 400μg salbutamol via spacer device. Measurement of total IgE and Eosinophil Cationic Protein was also performed.
Results: The overall prevalence of brochial athma in adults in Cyprus was 5,57% (61,1% in men and 38,9% in women). The asthma prevalence in age ≤40 years old was 27,8% , in age 41-59 years old (41,7%) and ≥60 years old (30,6%). Between the participants with established brochial asthma, a number of 36,1% individuals were current smokers. A total value of IgE more than 115 IU and a total value of Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) more than 20IU were found in 40% of the participants with established brochial asthma.
Conclusion: This was the first two-stage case report based study, performed in Cyprus, that covered a wide geographical range of Cyprus and a total population of more than 865,000 Greek-Cypriots. The results of the current stydy suggests that brochial asthma is a serius health problem in Cyprus. Health programs that focusing in prevention, early detection and management – treatment of the individuals with brochial asthma are needed.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Bronchial asthma, Cyprus, Prevalence, Adults, Study
Number of references:
220
