Asia Pac Allergy.  2014 Jan;4(1):25-31. 10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.1.25.

Prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adult population in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

• Sonomjamts M
• Dashdemberel S
• Logii N
• Nakae K
• Chigusa Y
• Ohhira S
• Ito C
• Sagara H
• Makino S

• KMID: 2397122
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.1.25

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mongolia is changing lifestyle, unhealthy habits, increase of air pollution, increasing life expectancy have led to an up rise of chronic respiratory diseases. Over 10 years ago, the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in Mongolia were in the lower range reported from previous studies.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of the survey is to know the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adult population of Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia and their risk factors.
METHODS
Total of approximately 1,200 adults aged 20 years and over were planned to be randomly selected. The questionnaire was developed on the basis of WHO Protocol for Assessment of Prevalence of Major Respiratory Diseases and modified by local risk factors assessment and by other international survey approach including Global Initiative for Asthma and European Community Respiratory Health Survey.
RESULTS
Prevalence of current wheezer in all age group was 15.7% (95% CI: 14.7-16.8). Age and sex segregated distribution of current wheezer were defined among male and female and prevalence was 14.5% (95% CI: 13.3-16.2) in male and female 16.6% (95% CI: 15.2-18.3) respectively. Prevalence of diagnosed asthma among adults was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.3-5.6) in all age group, 3% (95% CI: 2.4-3.7) in male and 6.8% (95% CI: 5.8-7.9) in female. Prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis was 14.6% in all age group. 28.4% out of subjects with allergic rhinitis has current asthma, while 11.6% of subjects without allergic rhinitis has asthma (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of asthma increased for one decade in Ulaanbaatar. Prevalence of diagnosed asthma is approximately 5% and current wheezer is approximately 15% in adults of population, which is close to other Asia and European countries. Allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for asthma.

Keyword

Adults; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Prevalence; Ulaanbaatar

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Air Pollution
Asia
Asthma*
European Union
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Life Expectancy
Life Style
Male
Mongolia*
Prevalence*
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Risk Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of current wheezer among adults in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (%).

• 

  Fig. 2 Prevalence of diagnosed asthma among adults in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (%).

• 

  Fig. 3 Prevalence of allergic rhinitis among adults 20 years and over in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (%).

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