Nationwide cross-sectional population-based study on the prevalences of asthma and asthma symptoms among Japanese adults.
BACKGROUND
Asthma is a common respiratory disease worldwide. However, few reports are available on the prevalences of asthma and asthma symptoms among Asian subjects.


METHODS
To determine the prevalences of asthma and asthma symptoms among Japanese subjects, we performed a nationwide cross-sectional, population-based study on Japanese adults aged 20-79 years. Ten areas spread throughout the country were randomly selected. Door-to-door or postal surveys were performed using a translated version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire.


RESULTS
The survey was completed by 23,483 participants. The overall response rate was 70.6%. The prevalences of wheeze and current asthma among all participants aged 20-79 years were 10.1% (95% CI: 9.7-10.5%) and 4.2% (95% CI: 4.0-4.5%), respectively. The prevalences among young adults aged 20-44 years were 9.3% (95% CI: 8.7-9.9%) and 5.3% (95% CI: 4.8-5.8%), respectively. The prevalence of current asthma was highest in females aged 30-39 years in comparison with the other gender and age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This nationwide study determined the prevalences of asthma and asthma symptoms among Japanese adults. The results provide fundamental information on the respiratory health of Japanese adults.
Fukutomi
Yuma
Y
Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan. y-fukutomi@sagamihara-hosp.gr.jp
Nakamura
Hiroyuki
H
Kobayashi
Fumio
F
Taniguchi
Masami
M
Konno
Satoshi
S
Nishimura
Masaharu
M
Kawagishi
Yukio
Y
Watanabe
Junko
J
Komase
Yuko
Y
Akamatsu
Yasuhiro
Y
Okada
Chiharu
C
Tanimoto
Yasushi
Y
Takahashi
Kiyoshi
K
Kimura
Tomoaki
T
Eboshida
Akira
A
Hirota
Ryoji
R
Ikei
Junko
J
Odajima
Hiroshi
H
Nakagawa
Takemasa
T
Akasawa
Akira
A
Akiyama
Kazuo
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires