Burden of asthma-like symptoms and a lack of recognition of asthma in Vietnamese children. (4th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le, Hong H. T. C.; Le An, Pham; Vinh, Nguyen Nhu; Ware, Robert S.; Phung, Dung; Thai, Phong K.; Ranganathan, Sarath; Dang, Tran Ngoc; Dung, Phan Hoang Thuy; Thuong, Do Thi Hoai; Phung, Hai; Hien, To Thi; Sly, Peter D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of asthma. Volume 60:Number 3(2023)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 524
• Publication Date: 2023-03-04
• Subjects: Asthma -- children -- under-recognition -- Vietnam -- ISAAC; Asthma -- Periodicals; 616.238005
• DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2066002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Lack of recognition of asthma in childhood results in unmet asthma treatment needs and leads to the risk of sub-optimal respiratory health. The present study assessed the prevalence of asthmatic under-recognition in middle school children in Vietnam. Methods: We conducted a school-based survey among 15, 112 Vietnamese children. Most of them are aged from 13 to 14. Schools and students were recruited using multi-stage sampling. Respiratory symptoms were collected via self-report using a standardized tool from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Under-recognition of asthma was defined as a presence of at least one asthma-like symptom but a negative response to having ever asthma. Associations were investigated using logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms was 27.3% and prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 8.5%. Over 80% of symptomatic children were not diagnosed with asthma. Under-recognition of asthma was found more in girls (adjusted odds ratio; aOR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.54 to 1.98). Conclusions: Asthma is significantly under-recognized in Vietnamese middle-school children. Urgent action is required to improve the recognition of asthma in Vietnam.