PURPOSE:
Recently, the
prevalence and
disease burden of
asthma have increased. Thus, the need for
early diagnosis and appropriate management of
asthma is emerging. However, it is difficult to identify the
diagnosis, symptoms and the
prevalence of
asthma due to lack of reliable investigating items. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized
survey format in order to assess the
prevalence of
asthma in
Koreans.
METHODS:
We investigated surveys and related information that are utilized to assess
asthma diagnosis and
prevalence by
systematic review. After that, Delphi
survey was conducted on 44 Korean
allergists in order to develop a standardized
survey in
Korea. The process consisted of 3 serial rounds across 3
age groups. Each subsequent round narrowed investigating items for the
decision of standard set about
asthma prevalence, current
asthma, and
asthma aggravation.
RESULTS:
Lifetime
asthma was defined as “ever doctor-diagnosed
asthma” in all
age groups. Current
asthma was defined as “
treatment for
asthma during the past 12 months” in all
age groups, and “doctor-diagnosed
asthma during the past 12 months” was added on the ≥5-year-old and
adult groups. “
Wheezing ever” was defined as “
wheezing at any
time in the past,” and current wheeze was defined as “
wheezing in the last 12 months.”
Asthma aggravation was defined as “visits at the
emergency department or admission due to
asthma attack within the last 12 months” in all
age groups.
CONCLUSION:
We established applicable nationwide definitions of “lifetime
asthma,” “current
asthma,” and “
asthma aggravation” in
Koreans by the Delphi
survey.