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Trends in asthma prevalence and severity in Omani schoolchildren: comparison between ISAAC phases I and III

Omar A Al-Rawas1, Bazdawi M Al-Riyami, Abdullah A Al-Maniri

  • 1Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. orawas@squ.edu.om

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)
|June 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Asthma symptoms increased in younger Omani children, while severe wheeze decreased in older ones. Many children with asthma remain undiagnosed or undertreated, indicating a need for intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Asthma prevalence and severity are significant global health concerns in children.
  • Oman has specific environmental and demographic factors that may influence childhood asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate temporal changes in asthma symptoms and severity among Omani schoolchildren.
  • To assess the diagnostic and treatment status of asthma in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1995 and 2001 involving Omani schoolchildren aged 6-7 and 13-14 years.
  • Utilized the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) protocol for standardized data collection.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in current wheeze prevalence was observed in younger children (6-7 years) from 7.1% to 8.4% (P=0.035).
  • Speech-limiting wheeze prevalence decreased in older children (13-14 years) from 4.0% to 2.8% (P=0.007).
  • Over 60% of children experiencing wheeze reported severe symptoms, yet only 60% had a formal asthma diagnosis, highlighting under-diagnosis and under-treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood asthma and severe asthma symptoms remain prevalent in Oman.
  • Significant under-diagnosis and/or under-treatment of asthma in Omani children necessitates urgent evaluation and intervention strategies.
Abstract

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