Asthma in Iranian Children: What the First National Survey Reveals

The first national survey in Iran found that the total prevalence of asthma among Iranian children is 10.9%, based on data collected from 16,410 individuals aged 6-7 years and 16,850 individuals aged 13-14 years. This indicates that asthma is a notable health concern in the pediatric population of Iran. Future studies could investigate the genetic predispositions that may contribute to these prevalence rates, possibly using genomic data to identify specific risk alleles prevalent in the Iranian population. Further research on environmental exposures beyond passive smoking could also be beneficial.

The Iranian national survey identified several key risk factors influencing asthma prevalence among children. These include age, where asthma is more prevalent among 13- to 14-year-olds (12.4%) compared to 6- to 7-year-olds (9.4%); gender, with males exhibiting a higher prevalence (12.1%) than females (9.8%); location, as children in urban areas showed higher asthma prevalence than those in rural areas; and passive smoking, which was significantly related to asthma in both age groups. Further investigation into socioeconomic factors and access to healthcare could provide a more complete picture of the determinants of asthma in Iranian children.

The prevalence of severe asthma among Iranian children, as revealed by the national survey, is 3.9%. The survey indicated that older age groups and males have higher rates of severe asthma. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and management strategies focusing on these higher-risk demographics to reduce the burden of severe asthma. Future studies could investigate the specific phenotypes of severe asthma in these groups to tailor treatment approaches.

Given that the national survey found a higher prevalence of asthma among children in urban areas of Iran, targeted interventions could focus on several aspects. These include addressing air quality by monitoring and regulating pollutants, promoting awareness of asthma triggers through educational programs in urban schools and communities, and improving access to specialized healthcare facilities and asthma medications in urban centers. Additionally, urban planning initiatives could focus on creating more green spaces to improve air quality and reduce exposure to allergens. Further research could explore the specific environmental and lifestyle factors in urban areas that contribute to the higher asthma rates.

The finding that the prevalence of asthma in the pediatric population of Iran is similar to other developing countries suggests that there are shared challenges and potential solutions that can be learned from each other. Public health strategies should focus on targeted attention to high-risk groups such as those in urban regions, male individuals, and older age groups. There should also be a focus on reducing exposure to environmental risk factors like passive smoking. This situation allows for the sharing of best practices and collaborative research efforts among developing countries to improve asthma control and management. Future studies could include comparative analyses with similar countries to identify the most effective interventions.