Prevalence, associated factors, and impact of adolescent asthma in Taiwan: Global Asthma Network phase I survey

Kuan-Wen Su, MD, PhD; Dah-Chin Yan, MD; Liang-Shiou Ou, MD; Li-Lun Lin, MD; Chao-Yi Wu, MD, PhD; Shu-Jung Huang, MD; Tsung-Chieh Yao, MD, PhD; Kuo-Wei Yeh, MD; Jing-Long Huang, MD

World Allergy Organization Journal (Jul 2023)

Prevalence, associated factors, and impact of adolescent asthma in Taiwan: Global Asthma Network phase I survey

Kuan-Wen Su, MD, PhD,
Dah-Chin Yan, MD,
Liang-Shiou Ou, MD,
Li-Lun Lin, MD,
Chao-Yi Wu, MD, PhD,
Shu-Jung Huang, MD,
Tsung-Chieh Yao, MD, PhD,
Kuo-Wei Yeh, MD,
Jing-Long Huang, MD

Affiliations

Kuan-Wen Su, MD, PhD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Dah-Chin Yan, MD: College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Liang-Shiou Ou, MD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Li-Lun Lin, MD: Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Chao-Yi Wu, MD, PhD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Shu-Jung Huang, MD: Department of Pediatrics, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Tsung-Chieh Yao, MD, PhD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Kuo-Wei Yeh, MD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Corresponding author. No. 5 Fu-Hsin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Jing-Long Huang, MD: Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. No. 6, Sec. 2, Jincheng Rd., Tucheng District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 7
p. 100794

Abstract

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Background: The prevalence of asthma in Taiwan was increasing in the past 30 years, causing a great impact on adolescent health. This study aimed to investigate the current prevalence, impact, and associated factors of asthma in Taiwanese adolescents. Material and methods: Parents or guardians provided passive consent at home prior to the survey. Adolescents aged 13–14 years completed a questionnaire survey in 2017 in Taipei, Taiwan. The prevalence, impact, and associated factors of asthma were analyzed. We also compared the asthma prevalence with the prevalence in 1995 and 2001. Results: We analyzed 3474 validated questionnaires. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 12.4%. The prevalence of current wheezing was 9.2% in 2017, which was 5.2% in 1995 and 7.0% in 2001. 3.3% of 13–14-year-old adolescents had severe asthma symptoms. Asthma significantly impacted the lives of adolescents. Of the students with asthma, 10.9% had school absenteeism, 16.5% urgently needed to see a doctor, 9.5% went to the emergency department, and 3.5% were admitted to hospitals within the preceding 12 months. The associated factors for physician-diagnosed asthma in Taiwanese adolescents were male (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.83; p = 0.02), maternal history of asthma (PR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.69–4.02; p < 0.01), and recent paracetamol use at least once per month (PR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.24–5.42; p = 0.01). The associated factors for school absenteeism were nocturnal cough (PR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16–3.41; p = 0.01), current wheezing (PR, 7.52; 95% CI, 4.39–12.9; p < 0.01), and recent paracetamol use (at least once per month, PR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.10–9.06; p = 0.03; at least once per year, PR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.25–3.83; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 12.4%. Asthma substantially impacted the lives of adolescents. Reducing nocturnal cough, wheezing frequency, and paracetamol usage might help decrease school absenteeism.

Published in World Allergy Organization Journal

ISSN: 1939-4551 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/world-allergy-organization-journal

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