burden of asthma in Oman

Asthma is a common lung disease worldwide, although its prevalence varies from country to country. Oman is ranked in the intermediate range based on results from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. A 2009 study revealed that the majority of asthmatic patients in Oman reported both daytime and nocturnal symptoms, while 30% of adults and 52% of children reported absences from work or school due to their symptoms. Despite these findings, there is little data available on the economic burden of asthma in Oman. The only accessible information is from a 2013 study which concluded that Oman's highest asthma-related costs were attributable to inpatient [55%] and emergency room [25%] visits, while asthma medications contributed to less than 1% of the financial toll. These results indicate a low level of asthma control in Oman, placing a large economic burden on healthcare providers. Therefore, educating asthmatic patients and their families should be prioritised in order to improve the management and related costs of this disease within Oman

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: case report and literature review

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica [TPO] is a rare, benign condition involving the trachea. TPO is characterised by osteocartilaginous nodules developing within the submuscosa of the trachea, sparing the posterior wall. We present the first documented case of TPO in Oman in a 25 year-old Omani male who presented with a recurrent, productive cough from which he had suffered throughout the previous two years. Diagnosis was made by characteristic computed tomography scan, bronchoscopic findings, and a histopathological examination

Asthma control in Oman. National results within the asthma insights and reality in the gulf and the near east [AIRGNE] study

The Asthma Insights and Reality [AIR] study in the Gulf and Near East [one of a worldwide series of surveys conducted in adults and children to assess asthma control] was conducted in Oman to assess how closely asthma control meets international guidelines recommendations. From January 2007 to March 2008, asthmatics receiving treatment or currently suffering from asthma symptoms were interviewed among nationals randomly surveyed from the most populated urban areas in Oman [Muscat, Sohar and Nizwa]. The standard AIR questionnaire was used to assess symptom severity, health care utilization, limitation of activity and medication use. From 201 asthmatic participants, 21% were under 16 years and 43% were female. Tobacco use was low in our asthmatics. Disparity in asthma perception was wide in Oman; while 57% of asthmatics perceived their asthma as well or completely controlled, actually 54% had poorly or not well controlled asthma. All recommendations for asthma control by the Global Initiative for Asthma were largely unmet, especially in child asthmatics, with 44% reporting night awakenings due to asthma during the previous 4 weeks and 47% exerciseinduced asthma in the previous 12 months. Overall, 32.6% of children and 34.8% of adults reported absence due to asthma from school/work during the previous year. Use of preventive inhaled corticosteroids was only 5.0%, one of the lowest even within the AIR Gulf and Near East study, producing an unacceptable ratio ICS/SABA [inhaled corticosteroid/short acting beta-agonist] of 0.054 in Omani asthmatics. Asthma control in Oman falls far below the goals of current international guidelines therefore corrective strategies are needed

Level control of asthma patients in chest specialist clinics

This survey aims to assess the current levels of asthma control as reported by patients attending chest specialist clinic by using the Asthma Control Test [ACT] questionnaire. Current levels of asthma control were assessed using the ACT questionnaire, and a brief instrument developed to assess asthma control in a clinical setting. 141 [100 females] patients aged 13 years and above were recruited from the chest clinic of Royal hospital, a tertiary hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. The ACT questionnaire was administered only from the second visit. The result showed that 61% of patients scored between "20 and 25" [well controlled], 17.7% of the patients scored between "15 and 19" [not well controlled], and the rest 21.3% scored between "5 and 14" [poorly controlled]. More than 50% of the patients reported that their asthma had an impact in work, school or home Nocturnal symptoms were reported by 66% and the use of rescue medications by 70%. Patient perception of asthma control did not match their symptom severity as more than 65% considered their asthma controlled despite the fact that their symptoms limited their daily activities and disturbed their sleep. The current level of asthma control among the study patients falls far short of the goals for long-term asthma management and patients' perception of asthma control is different from their actual asthma control