Mirna Waked1, Pascale Salameh. 1. Department of Medicine, St. George University Hospital Medical Center & Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, Beirut, Lebanon. mirnawaked@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study addressed symptoms' profile, severity and determinants of asthma control in school-aged patients (5-14 y) across Lebanon. METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study, applied on school children with physician-diagnosed asthma (PDA), divided into two groups: those who were on controllers (C+) and those who were not (NC). RESULTS: Out of 5544 children, 275 (4.96%) had PDA. The C+ group (32.7%) had higher mother's education than the NC group (45.9%) (p = 0.037). NC children were more frequently found in public versus private schools (p = 0.0001). Higher frequencies of regular visits to the doctor were noted in the C+ compared to NC group. In C+ group, 90% were on reliever and controller, and 10% just on one controller. A trend for more severity in the C+ group was noted compared to the NC group. An impact of asthma on daily activities was reported by 40% in the C+ group versus 34% in the NC group. CONCLUSION: Treatment of PDA in 5-14 y school children was quite adapted according to the recommendations. However, total control was reported in low percentages of patients reflecting universal discrepancy between evidence base medicine and real life.
BACKGROUND: This study addressed symptoms' profile, severity and determinants of asthma control in school-aged patients (5-14 y) across Lebanon. METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study, applied on school children with physician-diagnosed asthma (PDA), divided into two groups: those who were on controllers (C+) and those who were not (NC). RESULTS: Out of 5544 children, 275 (4.96%) had PDA. The C+ group (32.7%) had higher mother's education than the NC group (45.9%) (p = 0.037). NC children were more frequently found in public versus private schools (p = 0.0001). Higher frequencies of regular visits to the doctor were noted in the C+ compared to NC group. In C+ group, 90% were on reliever and controller, and 10% just on one controller. A trend for more severity in the C+ group was noted compared to the NC group. An impact of asthma on daily activities was reported by 40% in the C+ group versus 34% in the NC group. CONCLUSION: Treatment of PDA in 5-14 y school children was quite adapted according to the recommendations. However, total control was reported in low percentages of patients reflecting universal discrepancy between evidence base medicine and real life.