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Table 3 Summary of prevalence of asthma reported in the literature

From: Global asthma prevalence in adults: findings from the cross-sectional world health survey

Authors

Data Collection

Period

Study & Survey Used

Definitions of Asthma

Sample Size

Countries Included

Age Groups

Findings of Asthma Prevalence

ECRHS (1996)5

1988-1994

ECRHS

An asthma attack in the last

12 months or currently taking asthma medication

137,619

12

20-44

Ranged from 2.0% in Estonia to 11.9% in Australia with a median of 4.5%

ISAAC Steering Committee (1998)3

1992-1996

ISAAC Phase 1

Self-reported ever had asthma

721,601

56

6-7 and 13-14

11.3% in children aged 13 14 years and 10.2% in children aged 6-7 years

ISAAC Steering Committee (1998)6

1992-1996

ISAAC Phase 1

Wheezing or whistling in the chest in the last 12 months

463,801

55

13-14

Ranged from 1.6% in Indonesia to 36.8% in the UK

Masoli et al. (2004)4

1988-1996

ISAAC and ECRHS

Various depending on the survey and country

Not

reported

76

13-14 and 20-44

Ranged from 0.7% in Macau to 18.4% in Scotland

Lai et al. (2009)18

2000-2003

ISAAC Phase 3

Wheeze in the past 12 months

1,187,496

98

6-7 and 13-14

14.1% in children 13-14 years and 11.5% in children 6-7 years

Sembajwe et al.

(2010)13

2002-2003

WHS

Doctor diagnosis

308,218

64

18-99

Ranged from 1.8% in Vietnam to 32.8% in Australia with an overall 6.0%

To et al. (2011)

(Current study)

2002-2003

WHS

Doctor diagnosis, clinical and symptoms of asthma

177,496

70

18-45

4.3% doctor diagnosed asthma, 4.5% clinical asthma and 14.4% symptoms of asthma