Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 48 in total

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  1. Fulltext Asthma and climatic conditions--experience from Kuantan, Malaysia
    Lim TO, Looi HW, Harun K, Marzida
    Med J Malaysia, 1991 Sep;46(3):230-4.
    PMID: 1839917
    Data on number of cases of acute asthma seen at casualty department in 1987 as well as daily metereological data for 1987 were obtained and analysed for relation between climatic factors and acute asthma. Ambient temperature was significantly associated with acute asthma; the lower the temperature, the more the number of cases of asthma were seen. No association however was observed between asthma and the other climatic factors viz, rainfall, humidity, daily change in humidity and daily drop in temperature. We further discuss our finding.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology
  2. Ige, parasites, and allergy
    Kok A, Robinson MJ
    Lancet, 1976 Sep 18;2(7986):633.
    PMID: 61371
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  3. Fulltext Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergy in an inner city Malaysian community: intra-observer reliability of two translated international questionnaires
    Norzila MZ, Haifa AL, Deng CT, Azizi BHO
    Med J Malaysia, 2000 Mar;55(1):33-9.
    PMID: 11072488 MyJurnal
    Objectives: (a) To examine the intra-observer reliability of the Malay language versions of two international respiratory questionnaires i.e. the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaires, and (b) using the more reliable of these questionnaires, to estimate the prevalence of asthma and allergy related symptoms in an ethnically homogenous inner city community in Kuala Lumpur.
    Methods: The study was conducted among 7 to 12 year old school children of Malay ethnic origin living in an inner city area of Kuala Lumpur. The sample consisted of 787 children attending the only primary school in the area. The Malay versions of both questionnaires were administered twice, one month apart, and were completed by parents. Agreement between the first and second responses to the same questions were assessed by Cohen’s kappa. Kappa values <0.4 were indicative of poor intra-observer reliability, 0.4-0.59 moderate reliability, 0.6-0.79 good reliability and >0.79 excellent reliability.
    Results: 77.9% and 36.3% of parents responded to the first and second administrations of the questionnaires respectively. Kappa values of >0.4 were obtained in 15/16 (93.8%) and 17/27 (63.0%) questions of the ISAAC and ATS questionnaires respectively. Excellent kappa values were obtained in 4/16 (25%) questions of the ISAAC questionnaire versus only 1/27 (3.7%) questions of the ATS questionnaire. From the ISAAC questionnaire, all questions on wheeze had good reliability while those on asthma had excellent reliability. Questions on allergic symptoms had poor to moderate reliability. In contrast, from the ATS questionnaire, questions on wheeze had moderate reliability while questions on asthma were excellent reliable. Questions on allergic symptoms had moderate to good reliability while those on cough, phlegm and bronchitis had poor reliability.
    According to the ISAAC questionnaire the prevalence of ever wheeze, wheeze in the last 12 months, ever asthma and wheeze with exercise in the last 12 months was 12.5%, 6.6%, 10.3% and 5.9% respectively. The prevalence of ever sneeze or runny nose, sneeze or runny nose in the last 12 months, watery eyes in the last 12 months and ever eczema was 15.2%, 11.1%, 4.4% and 8,5% respectively.
    Conclusions: The translated ISAAC questionnaire was more reliable than the translated ATS questionnaire. Asthma and related symptoms were common among Malay school children in inner city Kuala Lumpur.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  4. Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema among schoolchildren in Kelantan, Malaysia
    Quah BS, Razak AR, Hassan MH
    Acta Paediatr Jpn, 1997 Jun;39(3):329-35.
    PMID: 9241894
    The prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in Kelantanese schoolchildren were determined as part of an international study of the epidemiology of asthma and allergic diseases. The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire was administered to 7055 schoolchildren from February 1995 to August 1995. The respondents were parents or guardians of 5- to 7-year-old children (n = 3939), and schoolchildren aged 12-14 years (n = 3116). The ISAAC video questionnaire (AVQ3.0) was shown to children aged 12-14 years after the written questionnaire. The overall prevalences of 'ever wheezed' and 'wheezing in last 12 months' were 9.4 and 6.0% respectively. The prevalence of 'ever diagnosed with asthma' was 9.4%. Both 'ever wheezed' and 'wheezing in the last 12 months' were significantly higher in 12- to 14-year-old children than in 5- to 7-year-old children, with P values of 0.0006 and 0.014 respectively. No gender differences in the prevalences were observed. For the complete study group, 4.7% of children had sleep disturbed by wheezing but only 1.1% had a severe attack limiting speech in the preceding 12 months. Sleep disturbance was more common in the 12- to 14-year-old children than in 5- to 7-year-old children (P = 0.006). There was no difference between the age groups for severe attacks limiting speech. The overall prevalence of rhinitis and eczema symptoms were 27 and 12%, respectively. The prevalence of rhinitis in the 12-14 year age group (38.2%) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the 5-7 year age group (18.2%). The prevalence of eczema in the 5-7 year age group (13.7%) was significantly higher (P = < 0.0001) than in the 12-14 year age group (9.9%). These prevalence data are comparable with previous reports in Malaysian children, but are considerably lower than those reported for most developed countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  5. Respiratory symptoms and asthma in primary school children in Kuala Lumpur
    Omar AH
    Acta Paediatr Jpn, 1990 Apr;32(2):183-7.
    PMID: 2116069
    In a cross-sectional study of 7 to 12-year-old primary school children in Kuala Lumpur, the prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm, persistent wheeze, and doctor-diagnosed asthma were 8.0%, 8.0% and 8.7%, respectively. The prevalence of asthma (defined as persistent wheeze and/or doctor-diagnosed asthma) was 13.8%. 4.3% experienced at least one episode of chest illness that resulted in inactivity for at least 3 days in the previous year. The mean age of commencement of symptoms in the doctor-diagnosed asthma group was 2.75 years. The prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm and persistent wheeze were highest among Indian children (p less than 0.05). More Malays had been diagnosed as having asthma than the other ethnic groups but the differences were not statistically significant. The patients' fathers' low levels of education were associated with chronic cough and/or phlegm (p less than 0.05) but not with other complaints. Asthma was significantly more common among boys than girls. No age differences were noted. Further analysis showed that persistent wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma were associated with increased likelihood of other respiratory illnesses or doctor-diagnosed allergy before the age of 2 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  6. Fulltext Significant morbidity associated with asthma: a need for increased doctor and patient education
    Liam CK
    Med J Malaysia, 2003 Oct;58(4):471-4.
    PMID: 15190620
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology
  7. Fulltext National income, self-reported wheezing and asthma diagnosis from the World Health Survey
    Sembajwe G, Cifuentes M, Tak SW, Kriebel D, Gore R, Punnett L
    Eur Respir J, 2010 Feb;35(2):279-86.
    PMID: 19741032 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00027509
    The aims of this study were to quantify and describe the variations in respiratory symptoms and diagnosis prevalence across regions of the world according to national income. In 2002 and 2003, the World Health Organization implemented the World Health Survey (WHS), which used a standardised survey instrument to compile comprehensive baseline information on health and healthcare expenditure. We analysed the WHS data to assess the global patterns of self-reported wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma, two commonly reported measures of respiratory health. In total there were 308,218 participants with complete records, from 64 countries. The weighted mean age of the survey population was 43 yrs. Global prevalence of current wheezing symptoms ranged from 2.4% in Vietnam to 24% in Brazil; the prevalence of diagnosed asthma ranged from 1.8% in Vietnam to 32.8% in Australia. Overall, the prevalence of symptoms and diagnosis showed a U-shaped pattern with the largest prevalence reported in low- and high-income countries. The smallest prevalence was consistently found in middle-income countries. These WHS analyses have provided global prevalence estimates of wheeze and doctor-diagnosed asthma using data gathered simultaneously and consistently across six continents. These findings support the need for continued global respiratory illness surveillance for disease prevention, health policy and management.
    Study name: World Health Survey (Malaysia is a study site)
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  8. Urban vs. rural factors that affect adult asthma
    Jie Y, Isa ZM, Jie X, Ju ZL, Ismail NH
    Rev Environ Contam Toxicol, 2013;226:33-63.
    PMID: 23625129 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6898-1_2
    In this review, our aim was to examine the influence of geographic variations on asthma prevalence and morbidity among adults, which is important for improving our understanding, identifying the burden, and for developing and implementing interventions aimed at reducing asthma morbidity. Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin, and is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. The disparities in asthma prevalence and morbidity among the world's geographic locations are more likely to be associated with environmental exposures than genetic differences. In writing this article, we found that the indoor factors most consistently associated with asthma and asthma-related symptoms in adults included fuel combustion, mold growth, and environmental tobacco smoke in both urban and rural areas. Asthma and asthma-related symptoms occurred more frequently in urban than in rural areas, and that difference correlated with environmental risk exposures, SES, and healthcare access. Environmental risk factors to which urban adults were more frequently exposed than rural adults were dust mites,high levels of vehicle emissions, and a westernized lifestyle.Exposure to indoor biological contaminants in the urban environment is common.The main risk factors for developing asthma in urban areas are atopy and allergy to house dust mites, followed by allergens from animal dander. House dust mite exposure may potentially explain differences in diagnosis of asthma prevalence and morbidity among adults in urban vs. rural areas. In addition, the prevalence of asthma morbidity increases with urbanization. High levels of vehicle emissions,Western lifestyles and degree of urbanization itself, may affect outdoor and thereby indoor air quality. In urban areas, biomass fuels have been widely replaced by cleaner energy sources at home, such as gas and electricity, but in most developing countries, coal is still a major source of fuel for cooking and heating, particularly in winter. Moreover, exposure to ETS is common at home or at work in urban areas.There is evidence that asthma prevalence and morbidity is less common in rural than in urban areas. The possible reasons are that rural residents are exposed early in life to stables and to farm milk production, and such exposures are protective against developing asthma morbidity. Even so, asthma morbidity is disproportionately high among poor inner-city residents and in rural populations. A higher proportion of adult residents of nonmetropolitan areas were characterized as follows:aged 55 years or older, no previous college admission, low household income, no health insurance coverage, and could not see a doctor due to healthcare service availability, etc. In rural areas, biomass fuels meet more than 70% of the rural energy needs. Progress in adopting modern energy sources in rural areas has been slow. The most direct health impact comes from household energy use among the poor, who depend almost entirely on burning biomass fuels in simple cooking devices that are placed in inadequately ventilated spaces. Prospective studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of biomass smoke on lung health among adults in rural areas.Geographic differences in asthma susceptibility exist around the world. The reason for the differences in asthma prevalence in rural and urban areas may be due to the fact that populations have different lifestyles and cultures, as well as different environmental exposures and different genetic backgrounds. Identifying geographic disparities in asthma hospitalizations is critical to implementing prevention strategies,reducing morbidity, and improving healthcare financing for clinical asthma treatment. Although evidence shows that differences in the prevalence of asthma do exist between urban and rural dwellers in many parts of the world, including in developed countries, data are inadequate to evaluate the extent to which different pollutant exposures contribute to asthma morbidity and severity of asthma between urban and rural areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology
  9. Fulltext Early life exposure to farm animals and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema: an ISAAC Phase Three Study
    Brunekreef B, Von Mutius E, Wong GK, Odhiambo JA, Clayton TO, ISAAC Phase Three Study Group
    Int J Epidemiol, 2012 Jun;41(3):753-61.
    PMID: 22287135 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyr216
    Associations between early life exposure to farm animals and respiratory symptoms and allergy in children have been reported in developed countries, but little is known about such associations in developing countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  10. Changes over time in the relationship between symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema: a global perspective from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
    Asher MI, Stewart AW, Wong G, Strachan DP, García-Marcos L, Anderson HR, et al.
    Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 2012 Sep-Oct;40(5):267-74.
    PMID: 22297190 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2011.11.004
    BACKGROUND: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) identified trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema over a seven-year period. We hypothesised that environmental influences on the three diseases are different and therefore investigated the correlation over time between trends in the prevalence of these diseases and their combinations at centre and individual level.
    METHODS: Centre level analyses were correlations between time trends in the prevalence of symptoms. At an individual level, odds ratios were calculated for associations between symptoms between Phases One and Three. We also investigated potential effect modification in the younger versus older age group; male versus female; and by average Gross National Income per capita (GNI).
    RESULTS: Both phases were completed in 66 centres in 37 countries for the 6-7 year age group and in 106 centres in 56 countries for the 13-14 year age group. We found that the correlations in time trends were stronger for the older age group than the younger one. Between symptoms of diseases, correlations of time trends were the strongest for rhinoconjunctivitis with eczema and weakest for eczema with asthma. The relationship between the three diseases was generally consistent over the seven-year period, and there was little association found with average GNI.
    CONCLUSIONS: Despite some increase in the proportion of children with symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, the pattern between the three diseases has not changed much, suggesting that similar factors may be affecting them at a global level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  11. Fulltext Clearing the air about "the haze"
    Jeyaindran S
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Mar;61(1):117-21.
    PMID: 16708750
    From the beginning of time, man has lived in a continuous state of interdependence with his environment. If the forces of nature are harnessed well, they are a source of great benefit to mankind, but when this balance is tipped, nature's backlash on man can be quite devastating. In recent times, we have seen many vivid examples of the magnitude of the destructive forces of nature, ranging from massive floods caused by typhoons such as Katrina and Rita, the hundreds of thousands of lives lost by the powerful tsunami and the destruction of the environment by the raging forest fires in Spain and California. Yet man has not learnt his lesson. Often greed, at times gross ignorance and more often than not, just indifference to the effects of his actions on the environment result in man upsetting his balance with the environment. In Malaysia, since 1990, the haze has become a predictable annual occurrence, varying only in its severity and duration. The cause being beyond our control, we are unable to prevent it from happening. However, it is within our means to be ready to take the necessary steps to minimize the effects of the haze on the health of Malaysians. In order to be able to give appropriate advice and to allay the anxiety of the general public, it is necessary to have a clear understanding about the various effects of haze on humans.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  12. Prevalence of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis: two surveys, 6 years apart, in Kota Bharu, Malaysia
    Quah BS, Wan-Pauzi I, Ariffin N, Mazidah AR
    Respirology, 2005 Mar;10(2):244-9.
    PMID: 15823193
    This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis in school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, and in so doing to determine the differences in symptom prevalence rates of asthma, and atopic diseases in Kota Bharu school children between 1995 and 2001.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  13. Fulltext Toxocara seroprevalence and childhood asthma among Malaysian children
    Chan PW, Anuar AK, Fong MY, Debruyne JA, Ibrahim J
    Pediatr Int, 2001 Aug;43(4):350-3.
    PMID: 11472577 DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-200X.2001.01421.x
    BACKGROUND: The larva of Toxocara spp., a common animal roundworm, may infect non-compatible hosts, causing a profound immunological reaction with marked eosinophil and IgE responses, not unlike in atopy. In this study, we determined the seroprevalence of Toxocara exposure in 66 asthmatic and 58 non-asthmatic children.
    METHODS: Exposure to Toxocara was determined by examining the serum samples of the children for specific IgG antibodies to L2 Toxocara larvae, using a commercially available diagnostic kit.
    RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, social class, residence type and presence of domestic pets at home between the two children groups. Children with bronchial asthma were observed to have higher Toxocara seropositivity than that of the non-asthmatic controls (21.2 vs 8.6%, P=0.047).
    CONCLUSION: The observed relationship between exposure to Toxocara infection and bronchial asthma in Malaysian children warrants further evaluation. An understanding of any possible contribution to the pathogenesis of childhood asthma provides a potential avenue for prevention.
    Study site: Paediatric Asthma clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  14. Fulltext Prevalence of wheeze, night cough and doctor-diagnosed asthma in pre-school children in Kota Bharu
    Quah BS, Mazidah AR, Hamzah AM, Simpson H
    Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2000 Mar;18(1):15-21.
    PMID: 12546053
    While many studies of the prevalence of wheeze have been conducted in schoolchildren, there have been few in pre-school children. Most children with asthma develop symptoms before the age of 5 years and many pre-school wheezers continue to wheeze in the early school years. Among the latter, those children who continue to wheeze at school age have poorer lung function than those who don't. It is thus appropriate to enquire more fully about wheeze in this age-group where its incidence is high and its relation with asthma less well defined. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalences of wheeze, night cough and doctor diagnosed asthma in pre-school children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five primary health clinics in the district of Kota Bharu from April to October 1998. Nurses from these clinics distributed Bahasa Malaysia questionnaires containing questions on asthma symptoms to preschool children aged 1-5 years during their home visits. The respondents were parent(s) or carer(s) of the child. The response rate was 100% and a total of 2,878 responses were analysed. The prevalence of symptoms and doctor diagnosed asthma were as follows: ever wheezed 9.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.3-10.4%); current wheeze 6.2% (95% CI 5.2 to 7.0%); night cough 10.2% (95% CI 9.1 to 11.4%); and doctor diagnosed asthma 7.1% (95% CI 6.2 to 8.0%). There were no significant differences in prevalence between males and females, or among age groups. The prevalence of night cough in children with no history of wheeze was 6.9%. The cumulative and current prevalences of wheeze were similar to, and those of night cough and doctor-diagnosed asthma significantly lower than, those reported for Kelantan schoolchildren. These findings provide a baseline for assessing future symptoms trends, and perhaps also the validity of diagnosing asthma in this age group.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  15. Skin prick test reactivity to common aeroallergens in asthmatic patients with and without rhinitis
    Liam CK, Loo KL, Wong CM, Lim KH, Lee TC
    Respirology, 2002 Dec;7(4):345-50.
    PMID: 12421243 DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2002.00409.x
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to common aeroallergens among Malaysian asthmatic patients with and without rhinitis.
    METHODOLOGY: An SPT using eight aeroallergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat fur, cockroach, Acacia sp., Bermuda grass, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger) was performed on 206 asthmatic patients.
    RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients (68%) were reactive to at least one of the aeroallergens. Among the SPT-positive patients, a positive prick test reaction to the house dust mites, D. pteronyssinus (93.6%), and D. farinae (81.4%) was most common, followed by cat fur (20.0%), cockroach (7.9%), Bermuda grass (7.9%), Acacia sp. (7.9%), A. fumigatus (0.7%) and A. niger (0.7%). A history of rhinitis was elicited in 111 (53.9%) patients and 95 (85.3%) of these patients were SPT-positive compared with only 45 (47.4%) of 95 patients with asthma symptoms alone (P < 0.001). The presence of rhinitis and a young age of onset of asthma were independent factors for positive SPT reaction to at least one of the aeroallergens.
    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SPT reactivity to common aeroallergens is high among Malaysian asthmatics, particularly in those with an early age of onset and in those with coexisting rhinitis.
    Study site: Asthma Clinic, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology
  16. Asthma, allergy, and atopy in three south-east Asian populations
    Leung R, Ho P
    Thorax, 1994 Dec;49(12):1205-10.
    PMID: 7878553
    Whilst many recent reports have suggested a rise in the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in Western countries, little is known about the epidemiology of these common conditions in south-east Asia. This study compared the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease amongst secondary school students in three south-east Asian populations--Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and San Bu in China--and investigated the associations with atopy and family history.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  17. Fulltext The relationship between prevalence of asthma and environmental factors in rural households
    Noorhassim I, Rampal KG, Hashim JH
    Med J Malaysia, 1995 Sep;50(3):263-7.
    PMID: 8926906
    A cross sectional study was conducted among 1007 children aged 1-2 years, from padi farming area. The percentage of male children was 51.4%. The prevalence of at least one of the chronic respiratory symptoms was 12.81%, and the prevalence of chronic cough, chronic sputum, wheezing and bronchial asthma as diagnosed by doctors were 9.33%, 3.87% 5.36% and 3.38% respectively. The overall prevalence of bronchial asthma was 6.26%. The prevalence of asthma was highest among children aged 11-12 years (8.9%) and higher among males (6.95%). No significant relationship was found between the prevalence of either chronic respiratory disease symptoms of bronchial asthma, and selected environmental factors, namely exposure to cigarette smoke, use of mosquito coil and wood stove. However there was a significant relationship between prevalence of asthma in children and history of asthma among parents and grandparents.
    Study site: Two villages in Tg. Karang (Kg. Sawah Sempadan and Kg Sri Tiram Jaya), Selangor, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  18. Fulltext Prevalence of asthma and risk factors among Chinese, Malay, and Indian adults in Singapore
    Ng TP, Hui KP, Tan WC
    Thorax, 1994 Apr;49(4):347-51.
    PMID: 8202905
    BACKGROUND: The prevalence and morbidity of asthma vary greatly among different ethnic communities and geographical locations, but the roles of environmental and genetic factors are not fully understood. The differences in prevalence of adult asthma among Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnic groups in Singapore were examined, and the extent to which these could be explained by personal and environmental factors were investigated.
    METHODS: A stratified disproportionate random sample (n = 2868) of Chinese (n = 1018), Malays (n = 967), and Indians (n = 883) of both sexes was drawn from households in five public housing estates, and an interviewer administered questionnaire was used to determine cumulative and current prevalence of "physician diagnosed asthma" (symptoms with a physician diagnosis of asthma).
    RESULTS: Lifetime cumulative prevalence (standardised to the general population) of "physician diagnosed asthma" was 4.7% in men and 4.3% in women; 12 month period prevalences were 2.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Cumulative prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in Indians (6.6%) and Malays (6.0%) than in Chinese (3.0%); period prevalences of asthma were 4.5% in Indians, 3.3% in Malays, and 0.9% in Chinese. Ownership of cats or dogs was more frequent in Malays (15.4%) and Indians (11.2%) than in Chinese (8.8%). Rugs and carpets were also more frequently used by Malays (52.2%) and Indians (40.7%) than by Chinese (8.9%). Current smoking prevalences were higher in Malays (27.3%) than in Indians (19.4%) and Chinese (23.0%). Malays and Indians did not have higher rates of atopy (11.1% and 15.2%, respectively) than Chinese (15.4%). Adjustment for these factors in multivariate analyses reduced the greater odds of asthma in Malays and Indians, but not to a significant extent.
    CONCLUSIONS: There are ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma in Singapore which are not entirely explained by differences in smoking, atopy, or other risk factors. Other unmeasured environmental factors or genetic influences are likely to account for residual differences in the prevalence of asthma.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  19. Bronchial asthma in Malaysia
    Ross I
    Br J Dis Chest, 1984 Oct;78(4):369-75.
    PMID: 6487527 DOI: 10.1016/0007-0971(84)90170-0
    Asthmatic patients constitute up to 5% of admissions to medical wards in our area. Analysis of 1099 adult asthmatic admissions over a 3-year period showed that Malays composed 31% of patients (expected 23%), Indians composed 36% (expected 31%) and Chinese only 32% (expected 46%). There was a reduced prevalence of asthma in the Chinese (P less than 0.001). Male asthmatic admissions showed a non-seasonal cyclic variation (P less than 0.01) with an increasing trend in the number of admissions (P less than 0.02). The proportion of male to female asthmatic admissions did not differ. In a sample of 50 asthmatic patients, studied in detail, the mean age of onset was 33.3 years (range 6-74) while only 14% of subjects had onset of asthma before the age of 10 years. Although the clinical features of these patients differ from those of Caucasian asthmatics, skin prick tests and other features suggest that the majority of our patients suffer from extrinsic atopic asthma.
    Study site: Hospital [unknown], Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
  20. Fulltext A Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Atopic Diseases in Children on the Arabian Peninsula
    Al-Herz W
    Med Princ Pract, 2018;27(5):436-442.
    PMID: 30149382 DOI: 10.1159/000493267
    OBJECTIVES: To study the available data on the prevalence of atopic diseases and food allergy in children living on the Arabian Peninsula.

    METHODS: A PubMed search for relevant published articles was conducted using the following search terms singly or in combination: "atopy," "atopic disease," "atopic disorder," "International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood," "ISAAC," "asthma," "allergic rhinitis," "eczema," and "food allergy" in combination with the names of countries of the Arabian Peninsula (Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Yemen). The search captured studies published up to December 2017.

    RESULTS: A total of 8 publications reporting prevalence rates of any type of atopic disease in children in 7 countries of the Arabian Peninsula were retrieved. The prevalence of all atopic disorders was comparable between countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The overall prevalence of asthma ranged from 8 to 23%, while the reported prevalence of eczema ranged from 7.5 to 22.5%. There was great variation in the prevalence rates of rhinoconjunctivitis, which ranged from 6.3 to 30.5%. The prevalence of food allergy (8.1%) was reported for 1 country only, the United Arab Emirates.

    CONCLUSIONS: The reported overall rates of atopic disease in countries of the Arabian Peninsula are comparable to those reported in other industrialized countries. This is probably related to the good economic status in the region, which is reflected in the living standards and lifestyle. Further, genetic factors, such as factors related to gene polymorphism, and the high rate of consanguinity in the region may contribute to the higher prevalence of atopic diseases.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*
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