ABSTRACT
Background: Asthma is a common problem all around the world with variable prevalence ranging from 1%–18% in different age and geographical distribution. There are proximately 300 million affected individuals. There are growing prevalence and morbidity, due to asthma associated with pregnancy. The course of asthma in pregnancy is unpredictable. Methods: 2400 consecutive pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of S.P. Medical College and AG of Hospitals, Bikaner, were screened using asthma questionnaire translated in Hindi based on the questionnaire developed for International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 52 patients diagnosed as asthma were subjected for PFT and classified according to clinical severity as per GINA guidelines, 2006. All subjects were followed till delivery and postpartum charts reviewed to see neonate and maternal outcome. Results: The prevalence of asthma during pregnancy was 2.1%, among them, 25 (48.1%) were categorized as having intermittent asthma, 6 (11.5%) with mild persistent asthma, 10 (19.2%) with moderate persistent asthma and 11 (21.2%) having severe persistent asthma. During the course of pregnancy, 36% had no change in the symptomatology, while (32.5%) experienced improvement and (32.5%) of worsening of asthma. 22 (42.31%) women were newly diagnosed during our study. There was no significant adverse maternal and fetal outcome in asthmatic group compared to control. Conclusions: Asthma is an under diagnosed and under treated disorder, especially during pregnancy and overall morbidity of asthma among women & neonates does not change during pregnancy.