Prevalence of asthma symptoms, diagnosis and treatment use in Romania

Asthma prevalence in Romania is largely unknown, because of lack of systematic studies in representative samples. European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) screening questionnaire is a validated instrument for assessing the frequency of asthma symptoms, diagnosis and treatment use. Aim: To measure the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, self-reported asthma attacks and use of asthma medication in a sample representative for population of Romania. Methods: We administered the ECHRS screening questionnaire to a representative sample of 15 to 39 years-old Romanians. Results: The sample consisted of 5354 subjects, mean age 28±7 years, 46% males. Frequency of asthma symptoms in the whole sample as well as in gender groups are shown in the table. We found no significant gender differences except an increased prevalence of wheeze with breathlessness in women. Total (n=5434) Males (n=2501) Females (n=2933) Chi-square males vs females Wheeze 10.2%(555) 9.8%(246) 10.5%(309) p=ns Wheeze with breathlessness 3.8%(206) 3.0%(74) 4.5%(132) p<0.01 Wheeze without a cold 2.9%(160) 2.7%(68) 3.1%(92) p=ns Waking with tightness in the chest 7.2%(392) 6.9%(172) 7.5%(220) p=ns Waking with breathlessness 7.6%(412) 7.0%(175) 8.1%(237) p=ns Waking with cough 9.2%(499) 8.4%(210) 9.9%(289) p=ns Attack of asthma 3.9%(211) 4.2%(105) 3.6%(106) p=ns Treatment for asthma 3.9%(210) 4.1%(103) 3.6%(107) p=ns Nasal allergies 6.3%(340) 5.9%(147) 6.6%(193) p=ns Diagnosed asthma 4.1%(222) 4.4%(111) 3.8%(111) p=ns Conclusions: Diagnosed asthma (defined as asthma attack or treatment in the last 12 months) was present in 4.1% of this representative sample from Romania. The much higher prevalence of symptoms suggests an under-diagnosis of asthma in this population.