Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia, affecting more than 2 million Saudis. Poor knowledge, fear of use of new drugs, and lack of awareness of the importance of control of the disease are common among primary care physicians caring for asthma patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Aims &
Objective: To estimate the difference in control levels (controlled, partially controlled, and uncontrolled) among asthmatic patients in Eskan and Kakiah PHC centers, in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, October, 2011. As well as to determine pertinent factors associated with control of bronchial asthma. Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional analytic study included all asthmatic patients attended asthma clinic at Eskan PHC center, and equal number of asthmatic patients attended general clinics at Kakiah PHC center, Makkah Al-Mukarramah during the study period (October, 2011). Both groups were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire to assess their symptoms and asthma attacks by using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Data were collected by questionnaire consists of three parts: Demographic data (six items), associated factors (six items) and Asthma Control Test (valid in Arabic version); Adult ACT (five items) and Child ACT (seven items).
Results: The study included 100 asthmatic patients (50 were recruited from Kakiah PHCC and 50 were recruited from Eskan PHCC). Slightly more than half of them were over 12 years old, 28 (56%), and 22 (44%) were 12 years old or less. More than half, 27 (54%), of the asthmatic patients recruited from Eskan PHCC compared to 17 (34%) of those recruited from Kakiah PHCC, were controlled. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.035). The difference between bronchial asthma control between Eskan and Kakiah PHCC was statistically significant among adults, while it was not statistically significant among children. Females were found to have significantly better control compared to males. Conclusion: Level of control of bronchial asthma was significantly better among patients attended asthma clinic than those attended general clinic, and females were found to have significantly better control compared to males.