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Updated: May 19, 2026
14:39
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Is the asthma epidemic still ascending?
Nour Baïz1, Isabella Annesi-Maesano
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR S 707, Department of Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Paris F-75012, France.
Clinics in Chest Medicine
|August 30, 2012
Summary
Asthma affects 300 million globally, with increasing prevalence linked to environmental factors and host susceptibility. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving this rise in asthma cases.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
- Immunology
Background:
- Asthma is a complex respiratory disease affecting 300 million people worldwide, causing over 250,000 deaths annually.
- Despite treatment advancements, asthma prevalence is rising globally, especially in low-to-middle income countries and specific ethnic groups.
- Spatio-temporal variations in asthma prevalence suggest a significant role for environmental exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifactorial origins of asthma.
- To explore the reasons behind the increasing prevalence of asthma.
- To examine the influence of environmental factors, host susceptibility, and stress on asthma trends.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on asthma prevalence and mortality.
- Analysis of spatio-temporal patterns in asthma incidence.
- Examination of evidence linking environmental factors, host genetics, and stress to asthma development.
Main Results:
- Asthma exhibits significant phenotypic heterogeneity and multifactorial origins.
- Prevalence is increasing globally, with notable disparities in low-income countries and certain ethnic populations.
- Environmental exposures are strongly implicated in observed spatio-temporal variations in asthma prevalence.
- Host susceptibility and stress are increasingly recognized as contributing factors to the rise in asthma.
Conclusions:
- The increasing global burden of asthma necessitates a deeper understanding of its complex etiology.
- Environmental factors, host susceptibility, and stress are key areas for further investigation.
- Continued research is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms underlying asthma's rising prevalence and inform public health strategies.
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