Prevalence of symptoms, severity and diagnosis of asthma in adolescents in the Province of Salamanca, Spain: Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I

Introduction and objectives: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in childhood. However, the latest data on its prevalence in Spain are from Phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), 2004. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of asthma symptoms, severity and diagnosis in the paediatric population aged between 13 and 14 years in the province of Salamanca. Material and methods: Cross-sectional multicentre study carried out in 2017–2018 in 13-and 14-year-old school children in the province of Salamanca as a centre participating in of the Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I. The standardised validated written questionnaire and that directed by a video was administered; it was self-completed by the pupils. Results: A total of 3485 questionnaires were completed, and the pupils’ participation rate was 95.01%. Among the total, 25.7% indicated having had wheeze ever (20.7% in the video questionnaire); 14.7% indicated having had wheeze in the past 12 months (11.3% in the video questionnaire). The prevalence of current wheeze that limited speech was 3.9% (7.5% in the video questionnaire) and the current prevalence of severe wheeze was 6.5%. Regarding asthma diagnosis, 19.7% of the sample answered that they had had asthma ever, whilst 14.0% referred to having physician-diagnosed asthma. The agreement between the written questionnaire and that directed by video was acceptable for the questions of wheeze ever (Cohen Kappa index [k] = 0.53) and current wheeze (k = 0.42). Conclusions: The prevalence of current asthma (wheeze in the past 12 months) in the population aged 13 and 14 years in the province of Salamanca is higher compared with that presented in 2004 in Spain, but similar to that described at the world level (low-moderate level), according to the ISAAC Phase III studies (AU)

Childhood wheezing phenotypes and their association to perinatal factors: a longitudinal study

Introduction: Multiple gestational and early life factors have been described as the variables that increase the risk for each phenotype of infantile wheezing. Our objective was to study the evolution of wheezing in a cohort of children followed up to 9–10 years of age and its relationship with different perinatal risk factors. Methods: A longitudinal study was made on the evolution of wheezing, over time, in 1164 children from Salamanca (Spain) included in the International Study of Wheezing in Infants, when the children were 12 months old. They were classified into three phenotypes: transient early wheezing (last episode before 3 years of age), early persistent wheezing (start before 3 years age and persisting thereafter), and late-onset wheezing (first episode after 3 years of age). Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to establish associations between the different phenotypes and perinatal factors. Results: Data were obtained corresponding to a total of 531 children. Of these, 169 (31.8%) had experienced transient early wheezing, 100 (18.8%) early persistent wheezing, 28 (5.3%) late-onset wheezing, and 234 (44.1%) had never experienced wheezing. Cesarean delivery, early exposure to infections, the presence of atopic eczema, and a smoking father were associated with transient early wheezing. Early persistent wheezing was associated with a family history of allergy, smoking, and obstetric diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding was identified as a protective factor in both transient and persistent early wheezing. Late-onset wheezing was associated with the male gender and with maternal history of rhinitis and eczema (AU)