Burden of asthma, dyspnea, and chronic cough in South Asia

Figures & data

Table 1 Distribution of sample population according to demographic, socioeconomic and health behavior-related variables, WHS 2002–2003

Variables	Bangladesh (N=5,510)	India (N=9,495)	Nepal (N=8,579)	Pakistan (N=6,118)	Sri Lanka (N=6,227)
Smoking habit
Daily	39.9	31.5	37.1	17.8	14.1
Not daily	4.8	3.0	5.5	3.7	6.5
Not at all	55.3	65.6	57.5	78.5	79.4
Age, mean (SD), years	38.48 (14.8)	38.86 (15.2)	38.84 (15.5)	38.93 (14.67)	40.82 (15.29)
18–29	30.9	31.4	32.9	34.9	26.9
30–44	38.6	34.6	42.7	36.6	35.7
45–59	19.4	20.6	15.6	18.2	24.2
60–74	8.8	11.3	7.5	8.2	10.6
>74	2.3	2.1	1.1	2.2	2.7
Sex
Female	53.4	51.6	57.5	44.0	53.5
Male	46.6	48.4	42.5	56.0	46.5
Current marital status
Unmarried	22.4	23.1	17.6	25.9	31.2
Married	77.6	76.9	82.4	74.1	68.8
Educational attainment
No formal schooling	41.2	39.6	60.1	54.7	6.1
Less than primary school	18.3	9.4	10.8	5.1	7.9
Primary school completed	24.9	17.5	13.8	13.3	26.1
Secondary school completed	7.3	12.9	10.2	12.1	38.6
High school (or equivalent) completed	4.0	9.9	3.3	7.1	19.1
College/preuniversity/university completed	4.2	10.7	1.9	7.7	2.3
Current job
Government employee	3.6	4.6	3.0	7.4	8.8
Non-government employee	6.2	10.6	2.1	10.0	11.1
Self-employed	38.0	37.9	65.2	33.5	21.9
Unemployed/others	52.4	46.9	29.7	49.1	58.1
Ever drank alcohol
Yes	6.4	11.0	36.3	9.2	18.6
No	93.6	89.0	63.7	90.8	81.4
Subjective health status
Poor	22.3	18.6	21.3	13.6	18.2
Fair	28.4	20.9	21.6	25.6	16.9
Good	49.3	60.5	57.1	60.8	64.9

Note: Data presented as percentage, unless otherwise stated.

Abbreviation: WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 2 Prevalence of asthma stratified by sex in selected South Asian countries, WHS 2002–2003

Frequency of smoking	Bangladesh (5.2)		India (6.3)		Nepal (4.2)		Pakistan (3.7)		Sri Lanka (5.3)
	Women (5.3)	Men (5.2)	Women (6.1)	Men (6.6)	Women (3.5)	Men (5.1)	Women (4.4)	Men (3.2)	Women (5.6)	Men (5.1)
Daily	5.9	5.2	9.6	8.4	3.8	5.3	8.9	2.7	4.5	6.7
Not daily	6.0	6.0	11.6	5.7	8.3	4.5	2.8	3.7	3.6	6.1
Not at all	5.0	5.0	5.3	4.8	3.2	5.0	4.2	3.4	5.6	4.2
P-value	0.682	0.862	<0.001	0.001	0.001	0.855	0.030	0.592	0.766	0.023

Notes: P-values calculated from chi-square tests. Data presented as percentage.

Abbreviation: WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 3 Prevalence of dyspnea stratified by sex in selected South Asian countries, WHS 2002–2003

Frequency of smoking	Bangladesh (7.4)		India (7.2)		Nepal (11.3)		Pakistan (3.4)		Sri Lanka (6)
	Women (8.9)	Men (5.7)	Women (7.8)	Men (6.6)	Women (11.5)	Men (11)	Women (3.8)	Men (3.2)	Women (6.5)	Men (5.5)
Daily	10.0	5.7	7.7	6.1	13.6	12.0	8.9	2.6	9.0	6.7
Not daily	17.0	3.0	11.6	6.1	16.6	9.4	5.6	5.3	14.3	6.3
Not at all	8.1	6.2	7.8	7.2	10.5	10.1	3.5	3.2	6.3	4.8
P-value	0.004	0.27	0.502	0.344	0.001	0.13	0.006	0.156	0.116	0.11

Notes: P-values calculated from chi-square tests. Data presented as percentage.

Abbreviation: WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 4 Prevalence of chronic cough stratified by sex in selected South Asian countries, WHS 2002–2003

Frequency of smoking	Bangladesh (14.4)		India (11)		Nepal (15.3)		Pakistan (10)		Sri Lanka (5.9)
	Women (14.3)	Men (14.5)	Women (10.6)	Men (11.5)	Women (15.4)	Men (15)	Women (8.4)	Men (11.2)	Women (5.3)	Men (6.5)
Daily	17.0	16.7	8.3	10.7	24.1	17.2	15.6	14.0	7.5	9.5
Not daily	16.0	11.4	14.5	13.2	17.6	16.5	25.0	16.9	3.6	10.0
Not at all	13.3	11.6	10.9	12.3	12.1	12.0	7.7	9.6	5.3	4.5
P-value	0.042	0.001	0.058	0.186	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.498	0.359

Notes: P-values calculated from chi-square tests. Data presented as percentage.

Abbreviation: WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 5 Association between asthma and self-reported health among South Asians, WHS 2002–2003

Asthma	Bangladesh, AOR (95% CI)		India, AOR (95% CI)		Nepal, AOR (95% CI)		Pakistan, AOR (95% CI)		Sri Lanka, AOR (95% CI)
	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor
No	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Yes	1.373* (1.020–1.848)	2.326* (1.757–3.079)	2.780* (2.249–3.436)	4.450* (3.648–5.430)	2.769* (2.097–3.656)	4.256* (3.295–5.497)	2.438* (1.737–3.422)	6.437* (4.658–8.895)	2.945* (2.235–3.881)	3.295* (2.533–4.286)

Notes:

* Statistically significant associations. Models adjusted for age, marital status, educational attainment, current job, and smoking and drinking habits.

Abbreviations: AOR, adjusted odds ratios; CI, confidence interval; WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 6 Association between dyspnea and self-reported health among South Asians, WHS 2002–2003

Asthma	Bangladesh, AOR (95% CI)		India, AOR (95% CI)		Nepal, AOR (95% CI)		Pakistan, AOR (95% CI)		Sri Lanka, AOR (95% CI)
	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor
No	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Yes	1.768* (1.363–2.294)	3.326* (2.605–4.247)	0.906 (0.736–1.116)	1.034 (0.990–1.081)	2.282* (1.929–2.699)	3.057* (2.605–3.586)	5.149* (3.545–7.478)	9.603* (6.566–14.044)	4.099* (3.117–5.389)	5.614* (4.357–7.234)

Notes:

* Statistically significant associations. Models adjusted for age, marital status, educational attainment, current job, and smoking and drinking habits.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WHS, World Health Survey.

Table 7 Association between chronic cough and self-reported health among South Asians, WHS 2002–2003

Asthma	Bangladesh, AOR (95% CI)		India, AOR (95% CI)		Nepal, AOR (95% CI)		Pakistan, AOR (95% CI)		Sri Lanka, AOR (95% CI)
	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor
No	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Yes	1.390* (1.156–1.671)	2.197* (1.832–2.634)	0.847 (0.716–1.003)	0.956 (0.807–1.134)	1.848* (1.598–2.138)	2.194* (1.904–2.528)	1.885* (1.553–2.288)	2.459* (2.136–3.311)	2.503* (1.932–3.243)	2.406* (1.864–3.106)

Notes:

* Statistically significant associations. Models adjusted for age, marital status, educational attainment, current job, and smoking and drinking habits.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; WHS, World Health Survey.