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[The current status of the study on asthma in China]
1Department of Respiratory Disease, General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan 250031, China.
Purpose:
To review the recent developments in asthma research in China, presenting the background of further asthma research and promoting academic exchanges between Chinese and foreign respirologists.
Data Sources:
A literature search was conducted using 5 authoritative journals covering the years 1994-1998.
Study Selection:
Sixty-seven of 238 asthma-remated original articles published between the years 1994-1998 were selected to reflect the recent developments in asthma in China.
Data Extraction:
The papers reviewed pertain mainly to the epidemiology, genetics, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of asthma.
Results:
Since 1993, the hot topics in asthma research in China have been pathogenesis, prevention and treatment. There has been relatively less investigation into the genetics of asthma in China. An epidemiological survey of asthma has been conducted in parts of China and was reviewed.
Conclusions:
More and more attention has been paid to the study of asthma during the last five years in China. The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent years. The study of the pathogenesis of asthmatic airway inflammation has made further progress, which will help the management and treatment of asthma. The treatments for asthma, including herbal medicine, have been explored and the clinical efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids has been established.