[An epidemiological study of bronchial asthma in the Stara Zagora District]

A cohort of 284 persons is included in the epidemiologic study of bronchial asthma 105 men (36.97%) and 179 women (63.03%), mean age 47 +/- 13 years. The study includes a three-year period (1986-1983). A total of 23 indices are taken into consideration, 12 of which are social and 11 are medico-biological. A greater influence of the social factor "place of work" than that of the factor "residence" is established. The high percentage of persons on a disablement pension (27.72%), concerning mainly persons in active age, raises several problems which should be solved in the region in prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. The highest percentage of the patients are with moderate and severe form of bronchial asthma--82.04% (233) with frequent attacks and 76.06% (216) are with respiratory failure. The index of glucocorticoid dependence (in percentage) leads to the conclusion of inefficient diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the disease in the district of Stara Zagora.