[Prevalence of asthma symptom in Iran: a meta-analysis]

ABSTRACT

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in the world. To quantify the national prevalence of asthma symptom, we conducted a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis. After internet search for population-based estimates of Asthma prevalence in Iran, 19 papers were selected from 142 articles, dissertations and reports of research projects published between the years 1998-2003. All studies on children performed by ISAAC protocol were found. We entered the data from studies in children to NCSS software. We used funnel plot for publication bias. In the 19 accepted studies on children under the age of 18 years, 61067 children had been checked by the ISAAC protocol. The lowest prevalence of asthma is 2.7% from Kerman and the highest prevalence is 35.4% from Tehran. Overall prevalence of asthma symptoms in children is 13.14%, [95% confidence interval 9.97-16.30], at the national level. Based on this study the prevalence of asthma symptom in Iran is higher than international norms