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. 2015 Apr 8;10(4):e0123099.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123099. eCollection 2015.

Prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adults in Yaounde, Cameroon

Eric Walter Pefura-Yone  1 , André Pascal Kengne  2 , Adamou Dodo Balkissou  3 , Julie Raïcha Boulleys-Nana  4 , Nelly Rachel Efe-de-Melingui  4 , Patricia Ingrid Ndjeutcheu-Moualeu  4 , Charles Lebon Mbele-Onana  4 , Elvira Christelle Kenmegne-Noumsi  4 , Barbara Linda Kolontchang-Yomi  4 , Boris Judicaël Theubo-Kamgang  4 , Emilienne Régine Ebouki  4 , Chrystelle Karen Djuikam-Kamga  4 , Christiane Gaelle Magne-Fotso  4 , Francine Amougou  4 , Liliane Mboumtou  4 , Martine Ngo-Yonga  4 , Elsie Linda Petchou-Talla  4 , Emmanuel Afane-Ze  1 , Christopher Kuaban  5 ; Research Group for Respiratory Disease in Cameroon (RGRDC)
Collaborators, Affiliations

Prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among adults in Yaounde, Cameroon

Eric Walter Pefura-Yone et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Population-based estimates of asthma and allergic rhinitis in sub-Saharan African adults are lacking. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of asthma and allergic rhinitis in urban adult Cameroonians.

Methods: A community-based survey was conducted from December 2013 to April 2014 among adults aged 19 years and above (N = 2,304, 57.3% women), selected through multilevel stratified random sampling across all districts of Yaounde (Capital city). Internationally validated questionnaires were used to investigate the presence of allergic diseases. Logistic regressions were employed to investigate the determinants of allergic conditions.

Results: Prevalence rates were 2.7% (95% CI: 2.1-3.4) for asthma-ever, 6.9% (5.9-7.9) for lifetime wheezing, 2.9% (92.2-3.6) for current wheezing and 11.4% (10.1-12.7) for self-reported lifetime allergic rhinitis; while 240 (10.4%) participants reported current symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and 125 (5.4%) had allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. The prevalence of current asthma medication use and self-reported asthma attack was 0.8 (0.4-1.2) and 1 (0.6-1.4) respectively. Multivariable adjusted determinants of current wheezing were signs of atopic eczema [2.91 (1.09-7.74)] and signs of allergic rhinitis [3.24 (1.83-5.71)]. Age group 31-40 years [0.27(0.09-0.78), p = 0.016] was an independent protective factor for wheezing. Determinants of current rhinitis symptoms were active smoking [2.20 (1.37-3.54), p<0.001], signs of atopic eczema [2.84 (1.48-5.46)] and current wheezing [3.02 (1.70-5.39)].

Conclusion: Prevalence rates for asthma and allergic rhinitis among adults in this population were at the lower tails of those reported in other regions of the world. Beside the classical interrelation between allergic diseases found in this study, active smoking was an independent determinant of allergic rhinitis symptoms. Nationwide surveys are needed to investigate regional variations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Prevalence of current wheezing by age group and gender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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