[An epidemiological survey on management and insights of asthma in China in 2009 to 2010]

Through the analysis of relevant data of China Asthma and Risk factors Epidemiologic investigation (CARE study), we understand the status quo of management and insights of asthma patients in our country.

Using multi-stage random cluster sampling method, epidemiological survey was performed on the prevalence rate in 8 provinces (cities) of China residents who aged over 14 years from 2009 to 2010. Detailed epidemiological data was collected via face-to-face home visit interview among 2 034 asthmatics who were diagnosed in the last epidemiology survey. Asthma was diagnosed based upon case history, clinical signs and lung function test. The SPSS12.0 software was conducted for statistical analysis and the status of asthma control was investigated.

This survey has shown that 22.71% (462/2 034) asthmatics had ever taken a lung functional test in the past year. A total of 294 (14.45%) people had peak flow meters but only 1.62% (33/2 034) regularly used it daily. There were 22.42% (456/2 034) asthmatics aware that bronchial asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation. 14.85% (302/2 034) asthmatics understood that the treatment goal of this disease is long-term good control or complete control. This survey has found that 59.64% (1 213/2 034) patients complained that asthma has affected their work, life and entertainment, including 8.90% (181/2 034) asthmatics dependent on instruments in daily life and 4.57% attempting to suicide. This suggested that allergic asthma has seriously decreased the quality of life.

Therefore it is necessary to educate the asthmatics, guide the patients to the long-term management and standardized therapy and raise the level of disease understanding, thus reducing the burden of disease to society. Gaining better insight of patient's attitude about self-care is critical to the improvement of asthma management.