Global Asthma Network Phase I Surveillance: Geographical Coverage and Response Rates

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Global Public Health

Background:

• The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I study builds upon the established International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) methodology.
• It aims to survey school pupils across diverse global settings, including high-income and low- to middle-income countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a global survey of asthma and allergy symptoms, risk factors, and management in school-aged children and adolescents.
• To assess trends in asthma and allergy prevalence by leveraging data from centers that also participated in previous ISAAC studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a cross-sectional survey design with participants from randomly selected schools between 2015 and 2020.
• Employed validated ISAAC methodology, collecting data through questionnaires administered to adolescents at school and to parents/guardians for both children and adolescents.
• Collected data on asthma/allergy symptoms, risk factors, management, school/work absence, and hospitalizations.

Main Results:

• Successfully completed quality checks in 53 centers across 20 countries by May 2020.
• Achieved high response rates: 88.8% for 132,748 adolescents and 79.1% for 91,802 children.
• Demonstrated excellent data completion for risk factors (>97%) and asthma management, absence, and hospitalization (>98%).

Conclusions:

• The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I successfully maintained the high response rates characteristic of the ISAAC study.
• The data collected will enable crucial within-center analyses of time-trends in asthma and allergy prevalence.
• GAN Phase I provides a robust foundation for understanding and addressing the global burden of asthma and allergies in children and adolescents.