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Genetic and environmental factors associated with asthma
A Bener1, Y M Abdulrazzaq, J Al-Mutawwa
1Department of Community Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain.
Human Biology
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Familial and environmental factors like pets, plants, and dust storms significantly predict asthma in UAE schoolchildren. These findings highlight asthma
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma is a significant public health concern globally, particularly among children.
- Understanding familial and environmental risk factors is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.
- Previous research indicates a multifactorial etiology for asthma, involving genetic predisposition and environmental exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify familial and environmental risk factors associated with asthma in United Arab Emirates (UAE) schoolchildren aged 6-14 years.
- To investigate the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis within this specific pediatric population.
- To determine the significant predictors of asthma after adjusting for potential confounding variables.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 850 schoolchildren (aged 6-14) from urban and rural areas in the UAE.
- Data collection utilized self-administered questionnaires between October 1992 and May 1993.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant risk factors for asthma.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of diagnosed asthma (13.6%) and allergic rhinitis (22.9%) was observed.
- Identified environmental risk factors included pets, plants, dust storms, humidity, and perfumes.
- Parental asthma, plants, perfume, dust storm, humidity, and pets were significant predictors of asthma.
Conclusions:
- Familial history of asthma and specific environmental exposures are significant predictors in UAE schoolchildren.
- The identified risk factors align with findings from other community-based studies, supporting asthma's multifactorial nature.
- These results underscore the importance of considering both genetic and environmental influences in asthma etiology and management.
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