This study is part of the Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults (ISAYA), which is a multicenter survey on the prevalence, determinants and management of asthma. This paper describes the prevalence of self-reported asthma, asthma-like symptoms and allergic rhinitis assessed by a cross-sectional study carried out on 1,180 young adults aged 20-44 years of four Sicilian centers located around an heavy polluted industrial area. The cumulative prevalence of asthma attacks in the last 12 months was 5.2%, which is higher than the one reported in the other ISAYA centers in north Italy. Among the asthma-like symptoms, wheezing showed the highest prevalence rate (10.1%). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was found to be 14.8%. Finally, the prevalence of asthma drug users was 4.0% versus 5.2% of patients that had asthma attacks in the last 12 months. Compared to the other ISAYA centers, our four Sicilian centers showed lower concentrations of outdoor NO2 pollution, as well as a lower annual temperature range and a higher annual temperature (Mediterranean climate). These data are inconsistent with outdoor NO2 pollution as the principal culprit, while Mediterranean climate seems to increase the risk of having asthma.

Prevalence of self-reported asthma and respiratory allergic symptoms in young adults living near a heavy polluted industrial area in Sicily

Giammanco, G.
Supervision
2004-01-01

Abstract

This study is part of the Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults (ISAYA), which is a multicenter survey on the prevalence, determinants and management of asthma. This paper describes the prevalence of self-reported asthma, asthma-like symptoms and allergic rhinitis assessed by a cross-sectional study carried out on 1,180 young adults aged 20-44 years of four Sicilian centers located around an heavy polluted industrial area. The cumulative prevalence of asthma attacks in the last 12 months was 5.2%, which is higher than the one reported in the other ISAYA centers in north Italy. Among the asthma-like symptoms, wheezing showed the highest prevalence rate (10.1%). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was found to be 14.8%. Finally, the prevalence of asthma drug users was 4.0% versus 5.2% of patients that had asthma attacks in the last 12 months. Compared to the other ISAYA centers, our four Sicilian centers showed lower concentrations of outdoor NO2 pollution, as well as a lower annual temperature range and a higher annual temperature (Mediterranean climate). These data are inconsistent with outdoor NO2 pollution as the principal culprit, while Mediterranean climate seems to increase the risk of having asthma.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/627529
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact