[An epidemiological survey of current asthma control status in China].
OBJECTIVE
Base on the China asthma and risk factors epidemiologic investigation (CARE study), we analyzed the current status of asthma control in China.


METHODS
With the multi-stage random cluster sampling method, epidemiological survey was performed among Chinese residents who aged over 14 years in 8 provinces (cities) from 2010 to 2011. Detailed clinic data of 2 034 asthma patients were collected via face-to-face home visit . Asthma was diagnosed based upon the history, clinical signs and lung function tests. The SPSS 12.0 was conducted for statistics analysis.


RESULTS
This survey found that the prevalence rate of asthma in China was 1.24% (2 034/164 215), including 973 male and 1 061 female patients, with a mean age of (56 ± 18) years old. Consistent with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, 40.51% (824/2 034) and 42.58% (866/2 034) of our patients achieved control and partial control, respectively. According to the asthma control test (ACT) estimates, 15.63% (318/2 034) and 49.46% (1 006/2 034) of patients achieved full control (ACT 25) and well control(ACT 20-24), respectively. In the past year, 22.62% (460/2 034) of patients reported hospitalized and 26.99% (549/2 034) of patients reported emergency room visit at least one time due to asthma exacerbation. 61.80% (1 257/2 034) of patients were on daily us of medication. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus a long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) or solely ICS were used in 6.39% and 14.75% of patients, respectively. Theophylline treatment accounted for 29.11% (592/2 034). Oral glucocorticoid and oral leukotriene modifier (LTRA) treatment accounted for 9.49% (193/2 034) and 3.10% (63/2 034), respectively. According to the survey, 34.51% (702/2 034) of asthma patients reported a history of smoking . The percentage of asthma control in non smoking patients was higher than in smoking patients [43.24% (576/1 332) and 35.33% (248/702), respectively]. Meanwhile, the rates of both hospitalization and emergency due to asthma exacerbation in smoking asthma patients were significantly higher than nonsmoking asthma patients (27.35% and 31.77%, 20.12% and 24.47%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The situation of asthma control has been improved in China. However, compared with GINA guidelines, there is still a considerable gap. Smoking is one of the crucial factors that affect asthma control.
Nan
N
Su
Department of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. Email: jiangtao_l@263.net.
Jiangtao
J
Lin
Guoliang
G
Liu
Ping
P
Chen
Xin
X
Zhou
Huanying
H
Wan
Kaisheng
K
Yin
Lijun
L
Ma
Changgui
C
Wu
Jing
J
Li
Chuntao
C
Liu
Hua
H
Xie
Wei
W
Tang
Mao
M
Huang
Yan
Y
Chen
Yuanhua
Y
Liu
Liqiang
L
Song
Xianliang
X
Chen
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005938:Glucocorticoids