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B Sánchez-Lerma,1 FJ
Morales-Chirivella,2 I Peñuelas,3
C Blanco Guerra,4 F Mesa Lugo,5 I
Aguinaga-Ontoso,6 F Guillén-Grima6,7 |
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1 Department of Hospital Pharmacy,
Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil de Canarias, Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
2 Community Pharmacy, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
3 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clínica Universitaria,
Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
4 Department of Allergy, Hospital Universitario La
Princesa, Madrid, Spain
5 Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario de
Canarias, Tenerife, Spain
6 Department of Health Sciences, Public University of
Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
7 Unit of Preventive Medicine, Clínica Universitaria,
Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain |
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Abstract |
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Objective: To
investigate the
prevalence of
bronchial asthma and
allergic diseases in
schoolchildren from
the Canary Islands,
Spain.
Methods:
Cross-sectional
study following the
methodology of ISAAC
(International Study
of Asthma and
Allergies in
Childhood), which
uses standardized
and validated
questionnaires. The
study participants
were children aged
between 6 and 7
years attending
schools in Las
Palmas de Gran
Canaria, Canary
Islands, Spain.
Results: Of the 3108
questionnaires
distributed, 1883
were answered, and
1871 were evaluable
(60.6%). Gender
distribution was
similar (51.8% boys
vs 48.2% girls).
Current prevalence
of asthma was 18.4%
(95% confidence
interval [CI],
16.7-20.2), rhinitis
40.3%
(95% CI, 38-42.3),
and atopic
dermatitis 35.8%
(95% CI, 33.6-37.9).
The highest
prevalence of
rhinitis was
recorded during the
autumn months
(P<.005). Asthma was
more frequent in
boys than in girls
(P<.05), but there
were no statistical
differences for the
other allergic
diseases.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of
asthma and allergic
diseases in children
aged 6-7 years in
the Canary Islands
is higher than in
other areas of Spain
where the ISAAC
study has been
performed. Male
gender is an
important risk
factor in children,
especially for
asthma symptoms.
Key words:
Prevalence.
Children. Asthma.
Rhinitis.
Dermatitis. Canary
Islands.
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