title: Prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adult population in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mongolia is changing lifestyle, unhealthy habits, increase of air pollution, increasing life expectancy have led to an up rise of chronic respiratory diseases. Over 10 years ago, the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in Mongolia were in the lower range reported from previous studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of the survey is to know the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adult population of Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia and their risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of approximately 1,200 adults aged 20 years and over were planned to be randomly selected. The questionnaire was developed on the basis of WHO Protocol for Assessment of Prevalence of Major Respiratory Diseases and modified by local risk factors assessment and by other international survey approach including Global Initiative for Asthma and European Community Respiratory Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of current wheezer in all age group was 15.7% (95% CI: 14.7-16.8). Age and sex segregated distribution of current wheezer were defined among male and female and prevalence was 14.5% (95% CI: 13.3-16.2) in male and female 16.6% (95% CI: 15.2-18.3) respectively. Prevalence of diagnosed asthma among adults was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.3-5.6) in all age group, 3% (95% CI: 2.4-3.7) in male and 6.8% (95% CI: 5.8-7.9) in female. Prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis was 14.6% in all age group. 28.4% out of subjects with allergic rhinitis has current asthma, while 11.6% of subjects without allergic rhinitis has asthma (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of asthma increased for one decade in Ulaanbaatar. Prevalence of diagnosed asthma is approximately 5% and current wheezer is approximately 15% in adults of population, which is close to other Asia and European countries. Allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for asthma.
authors: School of Medicine, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210648, Mongolia.
authors: Munkhbayarlakh
authors: M
authors: Sonomjamts
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Bio-Medicine, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210648, Mongolia.
authors: Sarangerel
authors: S
authors: Dashdemberel
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Laboratory, School of Bio-Medicine, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210648, Mongolia.
authors: Narantsetseg
authors: N
authors: Logii
authors: Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors: Kimihiro
authors: K
authors: Nakae
authors: Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Chigusa
authors: Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Ohhira
authors: WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Control of Chronic Respiratory Disease, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors: Clyde
authors: C
authors: Ito
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama 343-8555, Japan.
authors: Hironori
authors: H
authors: Sagara
authors: WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Control of Chronic Respiratory Disease, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors: Sohei
authors: S
authors: Makino
keywords: Adults; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Prevalence; Ulaanbaatar