Asthma prevalence and environmental exposure in children and adolescent in Slovenia – a pilot study

BACKGROUND: The last data on asthma prevalence (13.9 and 17.4%) in children in Slovenia is from 2002. The aim is to assess the asthma prevalence and environmental risk factors in two selected schools in Slovenia, as a pilot study for a national cross-sectional survey. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study in two primary schools in Slovenia. Observed population were children and adolescents aged 6-7 and 12-13 years. Observed outcome was current asthma diagnosed by a physician, reported by parents. To get the desired information we formulated a new questionnaire which was content validated. In the School 1 teacher distributed the questionnaires for parents to fulfill it. In the School 2 the questionnaires were delivered to parents at the parental meeting together with the presentation of the study and short lecture. We calculated the response rate, the prevalence of asthma, asthma symptoms, allergy, genetic background and exposure to environmental risk factors. RESULTS: Response rate in the School 1 was 24%, in the School 2 was 100%. We got data about 53 out of 127 children and adolescent. None of the parents reported a diagnosed asthma in their child or adolescent, 17% reported symptoms of asthma, 11% wheezing, 8% allergic rhinitis, 40% of children were living within 200 meters of a busy road, 34% were exposed to moisture and mold, 9% had chronic respiratory infection in their early childhood and 13% mothers smoked during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Newly developed questionnaire efficiently acquired information about exposure to environmental risk factors and asthma or allergy symptom. To get higher response rate, delivering the questionnaires at the parental meeting was more effective. Considering the reported symptoms of asthma in undiagnosed cases, further investigation of health records is needed to recognize the potential undiagnosed asthma cases. The latter suggests the benefits of the HIS / HES (Health Interview / Examination Survey) methodology. KEY MESSAGES: • HIS (Health Interview Survey) and HES (Health Examination Survey) design type methodology ensure us the quality data on asthma prevalence. • To efficiently assess the asthma prevalence, the adherence to medical guidelines and unification of the methodology to diagnose asthma in children by pediatricians is of an extreme importance.