Regional Variation in the Prevalence of Asthma Symptoms among Omani School Children Comparisons from Two Nationwide Cross-sectional Surveys Six Years Apart

The international study of asthm a and allergies in children (isaac) highlighted the presence of wide variations in asthma prevalence between and within countries . the aim of this study was to determine the changes in the prevalence of asthma and its symptoms across the different regions of oman. methods: two cross-sectional surveys were conducted as part ofisaac phases i (1995) and iii (2001) in two age groups (6-7 and 13 -14 years) from nation -wide samples of omani school children,with 7 ,0 67 participants in 1995 (3, 893 young and 3,174 older group) and 7,879 participants in 2001 (4,126 young and 3,753 older group).results: over the period of six years, the sharqiya (eastern ) region continued to have the highest prevalence of self-reported asthmadiagnosis and all asthma symptoms in both age groups, with a significant increase in the prevalence of wheeze in the past 12 months(from 8 .7% to 13.8 %; p=0.00 2) and asthma diagnosis (from 13.8% to 17.8 %; p=0.046) in the young group, and a significant increase innight cough (from 21.6% to 27.8%;p=0.039) in the older group. all other regions had lower prevalence rates in 1995 in both age groups,and showed either no significant change or a decline in one or two of the self-reported asthma symptoms. the prevalence of asthmadiagnosis among wheezy children remained unchanged across all regions. in addition , asthma under-diagnosis remains a problemwith only 60% of children with severe wheeze reporting asthma diagnosis in both surveys. conclusion :the geographic variation in the prevalence of self-reported of asthma symptoms among omani school children persists with further increase in the sharqiya region.the findings also suggest under -diagnosis and/or poor recognition of asthma which had not improved over time.