Childhood asthma: low and middle-income countries perspective
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Soto-Martínez, Manuel E
Soto-Quiros, Manuel E
Custovic, Adnan
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Our aim is to review current asthma epidemiology, achievements from the last 10 years, and persistent challenges of asthma management and control in low-middle income countries (LMICs). Despite global efforts, asthma continues to be an important public health problem worldwide, particularly in poorly resourced settings. Several epidemiological studies in the last decades have shown significant variability in the prevalence of asthma globally, but generally a marked increase in LMICs resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Poverty, air pollution, climate change, exposure to indoor allergens, urbanization and diet are some of the factors that contribute to inadequate control and poor outcomes in developing countries. Although asthma guidelines have been developed to raise awareness and improve asthma diagnosis and treatment, problems with underdiagnosis and undertreatment are still common. In addition, important social, financial, cultural and healthcare barriers are common obstacles in LMICs in achieving control. Given the high burden of asthma in these countries, adaptation and implementation of national asthma guidelines tailored to local needs should be a public health priority. Governmental commitment, education, better health system infrastructure, access to care and effective asthma medications are the cornerstone of achieving success. CONCLUSION: Asthma poses significant challenges to LMICs. Whilst there are ongoing efforts in improving asthma diagnosis and decreasing asthma burden in LMICs; reasons for inadequate asthma control are also common and difficult to tackle. Improving asthma diagnosis, access to appropriate treatment and decreasing risk factors should be key goals to reduce asthma morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Date Issued
2020-08-01
Date Acceptance
2020-05-30
Citation
Acta Medica Academica, 2020, 49 (2), pp.181-190
ISSN
1840-1848
Publisher
Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Start Page
181
End Page
190
Journal / Book Title
Acta Medica Academica
Volume
49
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2020 by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33189123
PII: ama2006-124.296
Subjects
Asthma
Asthma Guidelines
Children
Low-Middle Income Countries
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Bosnia and Herzegovina