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. 2018 Jul;10(4):387-396.
doi: 10.4168/aair.2018.10.4.387.

High Prevalence of Asthma in Elderly Women: Findings From a Korean National Health Database and Adult Asthma Cohort

So Young Park  1 , Jung Hyun Kim  2 , Hyo Jung Kim  3 , Bomi Seo  4 , Oh Young Kwon  4 , Hun Soo Chang  5 , Hyouk Soo Kwon  4 , Tae Bum Kim  4 , Ho Kim  6 , Choon Sik Park  7 , Hee Bom Moon  4 , You Sook Cho  8
Affiliations

High Prevalence of Asthma in Elderly Women: Findings From a Korean National Health Database and Adult Asthma Cohort

So Young Park et al. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: The prevalence and burden of asthma is increasing worldwide. In this study, we analyzed 3 different Korean national health survey datasets to determine the general features of adult asthma in Korea and to obtain basic information that would support future strategies for better management of adult asthma.

Methods: The surveys used in this study included the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) and National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC). We investigated annual asthma prevalence, evaluating the rate and risk factors of asthma exacerbation by age and sex, and clinical data of 1,832 patients with asthma who were registered in the Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea (COREA) were analyzed to elucidate risk factors for asthma exacerbation. We also analyzed another asthma cohort and added it as replication data.

Results: In the KNHANES database, annual asthma prevalence rates varied from 1.2% to 3.1%. In the KCHS database, overall prevalence increased, with significant regional differences (1.6%-2.1%). The NHIS-NSC indicated a gradual increase in annual asthma prevalence from 4.5% to 6.2%. Interestingly, all 3 surveys indicated the highest prevalence of asthma among elderly women. In addition, elderly women with asthma had a significantly higher risk of asthma exacerbation (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-2.93; P=0.006). Approximately 11% of patients were classified as having severe asthma. An asthma cohort analysis identified female sex, low baseline pulmonary function, longer treatment duration, high variability in pulmonary function and significant changes in Asthma Control Test scores as risk factors for asthma exacerbation.

Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma in Korea is consistently high among elderly and female populations. These results should lay the foundation for strategies for effective asthma prevention and management; elderly female patients with asthma should receive particular attention.

Keywords: Prevalence; asthma; incidence.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Prevalence of asthma in Korea: KNHANES database and NHIS-NSC from 2001 to 2013. KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; NHIS-NSC, National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Incidence of asthma by sex from 2004 to 2012: NHIS-NSC database. NHIS-NSC, National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Asthma severity and exacerbation: NHIS-NSC database. (A) Distribution of asthma severity from 2002 to 2012. (B) Asthma exacerbation rate from 2002 to 2012. NHIS-NSC, National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Risk of asthma exacerbation by sex: COREA asthma cohort analysis. (A) According to baseline lung function. (B) According to treatment onset age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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