Prevalence, risk factors, and management of asthma in China: a national cross-sectional study

Publication date: Available online 20 June 2019Source: The LancetAuthor(s): Kewu Huang, Ting Yang, Jianying Xu, Lan Yang, Jianping Zhao, Xiangyan Zhang, Chunxue Bai, Jian Kang, Pixin Ran, Huahao Shen, Fuqiang Wen, Yahong Chen, Tieying Sun, Guangliang Shan, Yingxiang Lin, Guodong Xu, Sinan Wu, Chaolong Wang, Ruiying Wang, Zhihong ShiSummaryBackgroundAsthma is a common chronic airway disease worldwide. Despite its large population size, China has had no comprehensive study of the national prevalence, risk factors, and management of asthma. We therefore aimed to estimate the national prevalence of asthma in a representative sample of the Chinese population.MethodsA representative sample of 57 779 adults aged 20 years or older was recruited for the national cross-sectional China Pulmonary Health (CPH) study using a multi-stage stratified sampling method with parameters derived from the 2010 census. Ten Chinese provinces, representative of all socioeconomic settings, from six geographical regions were selected, and all assessments were done in local health centres. Exclusion criteria were temporary residence, inability to take a spirometry test, hospital treatment of cardiovascular conditions or tuberculosis, and pregnancy and breastfeeding. Asthma was determined on the basis of a self-reported history of diagnosis by a physician or by wheezing symptoms in the preceding 12 months. All participants were assessed with a standard asthma questionnaire and were classed as having or n...
Source: The Lancet - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research