title: Epidemiological survey and analysis of asthma in children aged 0-14 years old in urban and rural areas of Chengdu region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and incidence of asthma among children aged 0-14 years, with different living environments, economic levels, and sanitary conditions, in the urban and rural areas of Chengdu, China, and their influential factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 0-14 years who were selected from urban, suburban, and rural areas of Chengdu were included in the study. The subjects were selected from all children aged 0-14 years in schools, kindergartens, and communities by random, cluster and non-proportional sampling. Parents were surveyed by questionnaire to find out suspected cases, which were then confirmed by inquiry and physical examination in the departments of respiratory medicine. All the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12,082 children from the urban areas, 5,677 from suburban areas, and 5,590 from the rural areas were included in the study. Of all the subjects, 551 (4.56%) had confirmed asthma, 150 (2.64%) had cough variant asthma (CVA), and 142 (2.54%) had suspected asthma. The prevalence rate of asthma was significantly higher in the urban areas than in the suburban and rural areas. The correct rate of diagnosis of asthma and CVA was highest in the urban areas, followed by the suburban and rural areas. Use of antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids was most common in the rural areas, followed by the suburban and urban areas, but this pattern was reversed for use of inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifier. All the results in the three areas demonstrated that sex, age, age at which the first attack occurred, respiratory tract infection, inhalation/intake of allergens, and genetic factors were significantly associated with asthmatic attack.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Population density, living environment, medical and health resources and economic level are associated with the prevalence and treatment of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China ;
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, First people's Hospital of Jintang County, Chengdu 610400, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, First people's Hospital of Jintang County, Chengdu 610400, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China ;
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, First people's Hospital of Jintang County, Chengdu 610400, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China ;
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China ;
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China ;
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
keywords: Epidemiology; asthma; children
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