The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis in rural Diyarbakır: A two phase epidemiological study

SUMMARY Aims: To investigate the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases, and the effect of indoor environmental factors in adults with age of 15 years and over residing in rural Diyarbakır. Methods: A two phase study was performed using European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire. At phase I, a total of 1300 questionnaires were distributed to the schoolchildren to be completed by adults living in the same house. Of these, 1 155 (88.8%) were returned and analysed by the investigator. At phase II, 107 individuals out of 1155 subjects were invited to the Chest Diseases Clinic for chest examination, lung function test, and skin prick test and total IgE analysis. The study subjects were referred to the Dermatology, Ear Nose Throat and Ophthalmology clinics, when needed. Results: The prevalence of wheezing and wheezing without common cold in last 12 months were as 47.4% and 26.4%, respectively. The prevalence of physician diagnosed asthma, and chest tightness, and individuals waken up because of dyspnoea or cough in last 12 months were 7.5%, 32.4%, 32.8% and 46.8%, respectively. Of the study population, 39.7% and 24.3% were reported allergic rhinitis and flexural eczema, respectively. There was no difference between the two genders with respect to reported symptoms. The prevalence of wheezing in last 12 months was significantly higher in pet owners (56.8%), smokers (57.2%) and individuals using electricity for heating (61.7%), as compared to subjects having no pets (41%, p<0.001), non-smokers (40.6%; p<0.001) and people living in houses heated with wood or coal (40.7%; p<0,001). Similarly, allergic rhinitis was significantly increased in pet- owners (59.9% vs 25.6%; p<0.001), smokers (46.8% vs 34.7%; p<0.01), and homes using electricity for heating (65.3% vs 24.5; p<0.001). Furthermore, flexural eczema was significantly more prevalent in pet owners (37.8% vs 15%; p<0.001) and individuals using electricity for heating at home (37.7% vs 14.6; p<0.001). However, the prevalence of the definitive asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were found as 12.1%, 11.2%, 14% 5.6% in the phase II, respectively. Key words: Asthma, allergy, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, prevalence, smoking, pet- ownership, heating system. VI