Evaluation of risk factors in patients diagnosed as bronchial asthma

Abstract Bronchial asthma is a public health problem with gradually increasing importance, affecting more than 100 million individuals worldwide and found independently of the level of development of the country. Factors related to lifestyle and the environment form the basis for the increase in the prevalence of the disease. Aim To evaluate our patients being followed-up with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma at the Allergy Clinic for risk factors and to determine their sociodemographic characteristics Material and Method The risk factors of 3025 patients followed-up with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma at the Allergy Clinic of the Ministry of Health, Ankara Diskapi Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital between January 1995 and March 2000 were evaluated retrospectively. Results A high percentage of our patients suffered from both asthma and allergic rhinitis and 45% of our asthmatic patients had allergic rhinitis while 93.5 % of those with allergic rhinitis were also asthmatic. Asthma was more common in males and those born in the summer months. 57.6 % of the patients had a history of atopy. Passive smoking was observed at a high rate and cigarette smoke was the most important factor increasing the symptoms. The symptoms increased during the winter. 92.8 % of the patients lived in the city. The average Ig E level was high and 60.9% of the patients were atopic on the skin prick test. Results Asthma seems to be an important health problem in our country. Recognizing the risk factors is important for the diagnosis and prevention of the disease.