BackgroundMost of the studies investigating the prevalence of asthma in various countries have focused on children below the age of 15 years or adults above the age of 18 years. There is limited knowledge concerning the prevalence of asthma in 16- to 18-year-old adolescents. Our objective was to study the prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms in 16- to 18-year-old adolescents in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in secondary (high) schools in the city of Riyadh utilizing the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire tool.ResultsOut of 3073 students (1504 boys and 1569 girls), the prevalence of lifetime wheeze, wheeze during the past 12 months and physician-diagnosed asthma was 25.3%, 18.5% and 19.6%, respectively. The prevalence of exercise-induced wheezing and night coughing in the past 12 months was 20.2% and 25.7%, respectively. The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms in students with lifetime wheeze, physician-diagnosed asthma and exercise-induced wheeze was 61.1%, 59.9% and 57.4%, respectively. Rhinitis symptoms were significantly associated with lifetime wheeze (OR = 2.5, p value < 0.001), physician-diagnosed asthma (OR = 2.2, p < 0.001), and exercise-induced wheeze (OR = 1.9, p value < 0.001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms in 16- to 18-year-old adolescents in Saudi Arabia is high, although it is within range of reported prevalence rates from various parts of the world.

Objective. The present study was designed to estimate the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms among secondary school students in Saudi Arabia Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children from secondary schools in the city of Riyadh. The study utilised the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire.Results. Among the 3073 students (1504 boys and 1569 girls), the prevalence of life-time rhinitis, rhinitis in the past 12 months, and hay fever were 43.8%, 38.6% and 21.3%, respectively. There was a significant difference between boys and girls in the prevalence of life-time rhinitis (41% versus 46.5%, p=0.02) and the prevalence of rhinitis in the past 12 months (35.1% versus 41.9%, p=0.001). There was no significant difference between boys and girls in the prevalence of hay fever (22.5% versus 20.2%, p=0.144). The prevalence of asthma symptoms among students with life-time rhinitis and hay fever were 35.4% and 39.9%, respectively. Asthma symptoms were strongly linked with life-time rhinitis (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.5, p<0.001) and hay fever (OR=2.4, p value<0.001).Conclusions. The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms is high among 16 to 18 years old adolescents in Saudi Arabia, and symptoms are more common in girls compared to boys. Rhinitis symptoms are also associated with a high frequency of asthma symptoms.

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