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. 2025 Dec 31;31(1):2466920.
doi: 10.1080/25310429.2025.2466920. Epub 2025 Mar 17.

Prevalence of asthma in Portuguese adults - the EPI-ASTHMA study, a nationwide population-based survey

Dinis Brito  1   2 , Cristina Jácome  3   4 , Cláudia Bulhões  1   5 , Maria João Barbosa  1   6 , Nuno Pina  7 , Ana Alves da Silva  8 , Catarina João  8 , Diana Gomes  8 , Filipa Lopes  9 , Janete Quelhas-Santos  8 , Liliana Amorim  10 , Marina Rodrigues  5 , Marisa Pardal  11 , Pedro M Teixeira  1   10 , Tiago Jacinto  3   4 , Ana Margarida Cruz  12   13 , Ana Margarida Pereira  4   8   14 , Ana Marques  11 , Bernardo Sousa-Pinto  3   4 , Cláudia Vicente  15 , Elisete Ferreira  10 , Luís Alves  13   16 , Maria Inês Fernandes  10 , Rafael Vieira  3   4 , Rita Amaral  3   4   17   18 , Rita Sousa  11 , Rui Costa  10 , Teresa Castanho  10 , Filipa Bernardo  11 , Jaime Correia-de-Sousa  1 , João A Fonseca  3   4   9   14 ; AEPI-ASTHMA Group
Affiliations
Free article

Prevalence of asthma in Portuguese adults - the EPI-ASTHMA study, a nationwide population-based survey

Dinis Brito et al. Pulmonology. .
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: In 2010, 6.8% of the Portuguese adults had asthma. Contemporary studies employing more accurate methods are needed. We aimed to assess asthma prevalence in Portugal and to identify associated-factors.

Methods: A population-based nationwide study was conducted from May 2021 to March 2024. A multistage random sampling approach was applied to select adults from primary care. Stage 1 involved a telephone screening interview to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. Patients with an Adult Asthma Score (A2 Score) ≥1 were eligible for Stage 2, and 5% of those with an A2 Score = 0 were also invited to participate in Stage 2, which consisted of a diagnostic visit with a physical examination and diagnostic tests. We computed weighted asthma prevalence estimates and multivariable logistic regression models were used.

Results: A total of 7,556 participants completed Stage 1 and 1,857 Stage 2. The prevalence of asthma was 7.1% (95%CI = 6.3-8.0%), with slight differences by sex, age, and region. Education, family history of asthma, inhaler prescription, nasal/ocular symptoms, food allergies, and previous allergy skin tests were associated with an increased risk of asthma (R2 = 33%). Asthma diagnosis could also be predicted by the A2 score, either on its own (R2 = 43%) or in combination with family history and previous allergy skin tests (R2 = 45%).

Discussion: Asthma affects 7.1% of Portuguese adults. Family history of asthma, nasal/ocular symptoms, and comorbid food allergy are associated with increased risk of asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; epidemiology; prevalence.

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