Epidemiology of Asthma among Arab Populations

purpose and background/ significance: There is limited research on asthma in Arab populations. A better understanding of factors associated with asthma among Arabs may provide insight into the etiology of asthma. The purpose of this integrative review was to summarize current literature on asthma among Arab populations.

methods: Comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2014 in the PubMed database using the keywords: asthma, wheezing, Arabs, Middle Eastern, and a list of Arab nationalities. Articles were selected if they were published in English and if the outcomes were measured using standardized tools.

results: Our review showed alarming rates of asthma among school children in Arab Gulf countries with prevalence rates reaching 23% in Saudi Arabia, 22.3% in Iraq, 20.7% in Oman, and 19.8% in Qatar. Generally, lower rates of asthma were found in most Mediterranean Arab countries. Our findings also suggested that rates of asthma have been on the rise in several Arab countries. Furthermore, our review documented that asthma remains poorly controlled in the Arab world. The prevalence of asthma in Arab Americans was similar to rates observed in Mediterranean countries. The main risk factors of asthma among Arabs were consanguinity, family history, exposure to traditional incense, exposure to cigarettes as well as hookah smoke, pet ownership, sandstorms, urban living, and psychological stress.

conclusions: The review showed significant variations in rates of asthma and respiratory symptoms among Arabs. Further research is needed to identify factors responsible for these differences and guide future interventions.