Prevalence of asthma and chronic respiratory symptoms among Alaska Native children.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the prevalence and impact of chronic respiratory symptoms among predominantly Alaska Native (AN)/American Indian (AI) middle school students.


METHODS
School-based prevalence assessment using the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children survey, with supplemental video material and added questions about productive cough, exposure to tobacco smoke, and the functional impact of symptoms.


METHODS
The Yukon-Kuskokwim delta region of western Alaska.


METHODS
A total of 466 children in the sixth to ninth grades, 81% of whom are AN/AI (377 children).


METHODS
No study intervention.


RESULTS
Among the 377 AN/AI children, 40% reported one of the following three categories of chronic respiratory disease: physician-diagnosed asthma, 7.4%; asthma-like symptoms (ALS) without an asthma diagnosis, 11.4%; and chronic productive cough (CPC) without asthma diagnosis or symptoms, 21.5%. Symptom prevalence differed substantially between the largest town in the region and rural villages. After an adjustment for demographic factors, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, active tobacco smoking, and self-report of atopy, village residents were 63% less likely to have ALS (p = 0.009), and had a twofold greater risk of CPC (p < 0.001) compared to children living in the town. Children with respiratory symptoms experienced sleep disturbances and accessed clinic visits for respiratory problems more often than did asymptomatic children.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic respiratory symptoms are very common among AN children. CPC is an important nonasthmatic respiratory condition in this population. The differing patterns of respiratory illness within this region may help to elucidate the specific risk factors for asthma and chronic bronchitis in children.
Lewis
Toby C
TC
Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. TOBYL@umich.edu
Stout
James W
JW
Martinez
Patricia
P
Morray
Barbara
B
White
Lisa C
LC
Heckbert
Susan R
SR
Redding
Gregory J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index