title: The prevalence of self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms in Ankara, Turkey.
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 had 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.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saraçlar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adalioğlu
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sekerel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Misirhgil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents