Cross-sectional Study on Asthma Control Status of children 6-11 years old attending Paediatric Clinics in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals, Malaysia

Introduction

 Asthma is a common respiratory disease affecting 1-18% of the population in different countries and reported up to 24% among children in Malaysia. Assessment of asthma control and identifying the risk factors for poor asthma outcomes are essential to achieve asthma management goals of symptom control and risk reduction.    

Method   

A cross-sectional study in 24 paediatric clinics in the MOH hospitals between 1st October 2020 until 31st January 2021 involving asthmatic children aged 6-11 years old and their parents. Asthma control status based on Global Initiative Asthma (GINA) guideline.    

Results  

Total of 756 subjects enrolled. Mostly were male (56%), Malay (82.1%) and mean age of 100.6 months (SD 20.54 months). About 68% had well-controlled asthma, followed by 23.8% of partially controlled asthma and 7.9% of uncontrolled asthma. Poor medication adherence, high usage of short-acting beta-agonist, the coexistence of allergic rhinitis, and exposure to allergens were the risk factors contributing to suboptimal asthma control among children (p<0.005).    

Conclusion

One-third of asthma control among children in Malaysia was suboptimal control. Many factors contributed to suboptimal level such as in adequate asthma treatment by clinicians and poor parents responsibilities to ensure compliance to medication and allergens avoidance.  

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