Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 91, Issue 8, September 1997, Pages 461-463
Respiratory Medicine

Original article
The prevalence of self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms in Ankara, Turkey

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0954-6111(97)90110-4Get rights and content
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Abstract

The prevalence of self-reported asthma was studied in a group of Turkish adults using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire distributed during 1994 local elections in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 2020 questionnaires were issued and 1820(90%) were returned. The mean age of the subjects was 34·5 ± 10·2 years. The prevalence of wheezing at any time in the past was 39·1% which is much higher than has been reported in the literature. However, only 21·7% of the study population had wheezing in the year preceding the survey and 2·9% of them severe asthma attacks. The prevlaences of nocturnal wheeze, nocturnal cough and morning tightness were higher in females (P = 0·05 for each). The results of this study showed a high rate of reported symptoms but a low rate of diagnosis and treatment of asthma among the adult population in Ankara.

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