ABSTRACT
Background: Asthma and hyperreactive airway [HRA] disease are a major cause of health resource utilization and poor quality of life worldwide; its prevalence in adults may widely vary according to the definition used. It is mainly a childhood disease, but its natural history till adulthood is not well known. This is due to other confounding factors such as smoking and environmental factors that may lead to misdiagnose asthma as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Correct and timely diagnosis of asthma and HRA is important because it can be treated successfully and affected individuals may achieve good control of their disease
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of asthma and HRA in Lebanese adults, their symptoms and predictors
Methods: A cross-sectional study using a multi- stage cluster sample was carried out in Lebanon, between October 2009 and September 2010. Lebanese residents aged 40 and above participated to the study; a post-bronchodilator spirometry was performed to con- firm diagnosis
Results: Out of 2201 individuals, 218 [9.9%] were considered to have HRA. The following factors were found associated with HRA in the Lebanese population: Northern [ORa: 3.54] and Bekaa Plain [ORa: 2.44]] ver- sus other regions; occupational exposure to toxic gases and fumes [ORa: 2.08]; heating home with wood [ORa:1.75]; having a family history of chronic respiratory dis- ease [ORa: 2.19], a history of childhood lung problem [ORa: 5.53], and father smoking during childhood [ORa:1.47]. Added to these factors, HRA was also predicted by female gender [ORa: 1.81]; lower education [ORa: 1.20]; older age [ORa: 1.28] and low birth weight [ORa: 3.14]
Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study in Lebanon that determined physician diagnosed asthma prevalence and hyperreactive airway disease and their associated factors among Lebanese adults. It also provides useful contributions that local health organizations may use for national programming and a foundation for health researchers to pursue further study in asthma research. Public awareness about the increased risk of asthma associated with heating homes with wood and exposure to passive smoking should be raised; Lebanese policy makers should also generate higher efforts to implement and reinforce the smoking ban law in public places
ABSTRACT
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancers. However, there are no epidemiological studies concerning lung cancer and its risk factors in Lebanon. This study was carried out to determine the association between lung cancer and its most common risk factors in a sample of the Lebanese population. A hospital-based case - control study was conducted. Patients were recruited in a tertiary health care center. A questionnaire in Arabic was designed to assess the possible risk factors for lung cancer. For females, cigarette smoking [ORa = 9.76] and using fuel for heating [ORa = 9.12] were found to be the main risk factors for lung cancer; for males, cigarette smoking [ORa = 156.98], living near an electricity generator [ORa = 13.26], consuming low quantities of fruits and vegetables [ORa = 10.54] and a family history of cancer [ORa = 8.75] were associated with lung cancer. Waterpipe smoking was significantly correlated with lung cancer in the bivariate analysis. In this pilot study, it was found that in addition to smoking, outdoor and indoor pollution factors were potential risk factors of lung cancer. Additional studies would be necessary to confirm these findings