Bronchial asthma in portuguese university students : study of prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

Objectives – To determine the prevalence of asthma in Portuguese university students; to characterize their disease based on self-reported symptoms; and to identify possible risk factors for Asthma. Methods – In this observational cross-sectional study, a sample of 1000 students were randomly selected and given a questionnaire in order to determine the prevalence of bronchial asthma. From the students who were identified and gave their consent, 548 answered a questionnaire. Those whose answers were compatible with a probable diagnosis of bronchial asthma were contacted, via phone call, in order to assess their asthma control. Multivariate statistical analyses were conducted using logistic regressions models to determine potential risk factors. Results – A total of 578 students answered the questionnaire, and 121 were identified with self-reported symptoms compatible with asthma. Of these, 48.8% already had a previous diagnosis made by a doctor. 76% of the diagnosed students also had rhinitis. The triggers for asthma symptoms most reported by the students were common colds, exposure to pollens, house dust, tobacco smoke and weather changes. Of the students identified with self-reported asthma, 50.4% answered the phone call, and, of these, 62.3% had asthma symptoms that were not controlled in the previous month. From the factors potentially associated with increased risk of asthma, two of them significantly increased the risk of the disease: habits of regular smoking (OR = 2.09, 95%CI 1.21 to 3.62) and personal history of dermatitis/ atopic eczema (OR 2.65, 95%CI 1.55 to 4.54). Conclusions – The prevalence of asthma in university students in Beira Interior, Portugal, was 20.9%. Only 48.8% of them had a previous diagnosis made by a doctor. Of those who allowed us to assess their asthma control, 62.3% were not controlled, and that may be related to infrequent medical follow up. Regular smoking and personal history of dermatitis/atopic eczema significantly increased the risk of having bronchial asthma.