RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence, time trends and treatment practices of asthma in India: the Global Asthma Network study
JF ERJ Open Research
JO erjor
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 00528-2021
DO 10.1183/23120541.00528-2021
VO 8
IS 2
A1 Sheetu Singh
A1 Sundeep Salvi
A1 Daya Krishan Mangal
A1 Meenu Singh
A1 Shally Awasthi
A1 Padukudru Anand Mahesh
A1 Sushil K. Kabra
A1 Sabir Mohammed
A1 Thevaruparambil U. Sukumaran
A1 Aloke G. Ghoshal
A1 Monica Barne
A1 Sanjeev Sinha
A1 Sanjay K. Kochar
A1 Nishtha Singh
A1 Udaiveer Singh
A1 Kamalesh Kumar Patel
A1 Arvind Kumar Sharma
A1 Bhushan Girase
A1 Anil Chauhan
A1 Niranjan Sit
A1 Jayaraj B. Siddaiah
A1 Virendra Singh
YR 2022
UL http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/8/2/00528-2021.abstract
AB Objective The objective of this subanalysis of data from centres across urban areas in India of the Global Asthma Network (GAN) was to study 1) the prevalence of symptoms of asthma in children and adults, 2) the change in prevalence of asthma and its trigger factors since the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), and 3) current asthma treatment practice.Methods In this cross-sectional, multicentre, school-based and self-administered questionnaire, responses from children aged 6–7 years and 13–14 years, and their respective parents, were analysed.Results The GAN Phase I study included 20 084 children in the 6–7-year age group, 25 887 children in the 13–14-year age group and 81 296 parents. The prevalence of wheeze in the previous 12 months was 3.16%, 3.63% and 3.30% in the three groups, respectively. In comparison to the ISAAC studies, there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of current wheeze (p<0.001). Bivariate analysis revealed a significant reduction in the prevalence of trigger factors. Almost 82% of current wheezers and 70% of subjects with symptoms of severe asthma were not clinically diagnosed as having asthma. The daily use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was less than 2.5% in subjects with current wheeze and those with symptoms of severe asthma but less than 1% used daily ICS when asthma remained undiagnosed.Conclusion The prevalence of current wheeze and its causal factors showed a significant reduction compared to previous ISAAC studies. Among subjects with current wheeze and symptoms of severe asthma, the problem of under-diagnosis and under-treatment was widespread.Data from Indian centres that participated in the multicentre Global Asthma Network showed a significant decline in symptoms of asthma compared to previous studies. The study highlighted under-diagnosis and under-treatment in children and adults with asthma. https://bit.ly/3thevot