Influence of Associated Factors in the
Prevalence of Asthma: A Community
Based Study in Mysore
721-724
Correspondence
Dr . Shivani Rao
Assistant Professor, Dept of Community Medicine,
Saveetha Medical College, Chennai
Email: docshivani@sify.com
Phone: 08144365176
Background: Asthma, with an upward surge world-wide has become a chronic disease that needs more attention. Although a uniform increase has been depicted, statistics show regional differences with respect to its prevalence in India and in different parts of the world.
Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of known asthmatics in the rural versus urban population of Mysore, India and to identify the factors associated with its prevalence.
Material and Methods: This was a community based, crosssectional study conducted over a period of 6 months in the rural and urban practice area of JSS Medical College, Mysore, India, to include the total population around two primary health centres ( Hadinaru and Suttur) and one urban health centre. The data was collected by trained interns from each household by using a pretested proforma with a questionnaire. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by using the SPSS 12 and Epi info softwares.
Results: A total of 23280 rural subjects were studied, of which 273 were known cases of asthma. Out of 6218 urban subjects, 76 were diagnosed as asthmatics, thus showing a prevalence rate of 1.2% in both the groups. There was a significant association between the occurrence of asthma and age in the rural and urban areas. A statistical association was seen among the asthma cases in the male gender (p < 0.5). A high prevalence of asthma was seen among cigarette smokers in both the rural (4.0%) and urban (3.5%) areas. A significant association was observed between asthma and tobacco usage.
Conclusion: In order to attain a better quality of life in a chronic disease condition like asthma, one needs to be aware of its aggravating factors. The identification of the preventable exacerbating factors of asthma would help in designing control programmes to invoke the awareness on such aspects. Such a study would help in understanding the disease burden, in order to initiate health measures at a community level.