Bronchial asthma: Prevalence and risk factors among children in urban population from Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Bronchial asthma is an important chronic disease in children leading to school absenteeism, hospitalization, economic and psychological stress in the family. Worldwide, the prevalence of asthma is on rise. There is a paucity of information on the prevalence of bronchial asthma in childhood in Central India. Hence, this community-based study was conducted with an objective to estimate the prevalence of asthma and identify associated risk factors in children between 6 and 14 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study using modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was conducted in the urban area of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. The calculated study sample of 175 children in the age group of 6–14 years was recruited using multistage random sampling. RESULTS: Of 175 (88 males and 87 females), 13.14% (23) of the participants had wheezing at any time in the past and 5.14% had wheezing in the past 1 year (asthma prevalence). The prevalence was slightly more (5.9%) in 6–9 years. Boys had more prevalence (5.6%) than girls (4.6%). However, more girls were affected (5.4% vs. 3.7%) in the age group of 10–14 years. Major risk factors with statistically significant “P” values were allergic rhinitis (66.6%) (Relative Risk (RR) = 6.9), family history of bronchial asthma (66%) (RR = 4.6), maternal asthma (33.3%) (RR = 6.9), and upper socioeconomic class (55.5%) (RR = 2.9%). Important triggers were inhalants, cold exposure, exercise, irritants, and infections. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma in children was 5.14%. The significant risk factors were allergic rhinitis and family history of asthma, specifically maternal asthma.