Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2016 Mar;8(2):92-100. 10.4168/aair.2016.8.2.92.

Environmental Exposure and Genetic Predisposition as Risk Factors for Asthma in China

• Chen Y
• Wong GW
• Li J

• KMID: 2165924
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2016.8.2.92

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disease worldwide and places a considerable economic burden on society. China is the world's largest developing country and has the largest population. China has undergone dramatic changes in the past few decades. The traditional lifestyle and living environment have changed in ways that directly affect the prevalence of asthma. The prevalence of asthma is lower in Chinese children and adults than in developed countries, but the prevalence has been on the rise during the past 30 years. The prevalence significantly varies among different parts of China. Polymorphisms of multiple genes, outdoor air pollution caused by PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, environmental tobacco smoke, and coal, indoor pollution, and inhaled allergens, such as house dust mites, pollen, and cockroach particles, are risk factors for asthma.

Keyword

Asthma; air pollution; allergen; genetic polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Adult
Air Pollution
Allergens
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Asthma*
Child
China*
Coal
Cockroaches
Developed Countries
Developing Countries
Environmental Exposure*
Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
Humans
Life Style
Lung Diseases
Pollen
Polymorphism, Genetic
Prevalence
Pyroglyphidae
Risk Factors*
Smoke
Tobacco
Allergens
Coal
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Geographic differences in the prevalence of asthma in (A) children and (B) adults. Childhood asthma prevalence was retrieved from the 2010 nationwide data. Adult asthma prevalence was determined using data from local area studies.

• 

  Fig. 2 The Prevalence and trend of asthma among children in the last 3 decades. *no significant difference between 2000 and 2010 surveys; †no significant difference between 1990 and 2000 surveys.

• 

  Fig. 3 The difference in asthma prevalence (%) between urban and rural areas. *data from surveys in children

• 

  Fig. 4 Bland-Altman plots showing the average air-pollution index vs the mean change in prevalence of asthma from 2004 to 2010.

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