Global Asthma Network Phase I Surveillance: Geographical Coverage and Response Rates

Abstract

Background—The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I is surveying school pupils in high-income and low- or middle-income countries using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) methodology. Methods—Cross-sectional surveys of participants in two age groups in randomly selected schools within each centre (2015–2020). The compulsory age group is 13–14 years (adolescents), optionally including parents or guardians. Six to seven years (children) and their parents are also optional. Adolescents completed questionnaires at school, and took home adult questionnaires for parent/guardian completion. Children took home questionnaires for parent/guardian completion about the child and also adult questionnaires. Questions related to symptoms and risk factors for asthma and allergy, asthma management, school/work absence and hospitalisation. Results—53 centres in 20 countries completed quality checks by 31 May 2020. These included 21 centres that previously participated in ISAAC. There were 132,748 adolescents (average response rate 88.8%), 91,802 children (average response rate 79.1%), and 177,622 adults, with >97% answering risk factor questions and >98% answering questions on asthma management, school/work absence and hospitalisation. Conclusion—The high response rates achieved in ISAAC have generally been maintained in GAN. GAN Phase I surveys, partially overlapping with ISAAC centres, will allow within-centre analyses of time-trends in prevalence.

Parental Education and the Association between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Asthma in Adolescents: The Greek Global Asthma Network (GAN) Study

“…This is an observational study, part of the GAN Phase I study, which is an international project aiming to monitor the worldwide prevalence, severity, management, and risk factors of asthma [ 15 ].…”

“…The GAN study included two standardized questionnaires: one that was completed by the adolescents during school time and one intended for parents/guardians to complete at home (adult questionnaire). The adolescents’ questionnaire included several questions about symptoms of asthma as well as other questions regarding their home environment and their lifestyle [ 15 ]. Specifically, current asthma was defined as the positive answer to the question “Have you had wheezing or whistling in the chest in the past 12 months?” Moreover, adolescents were asked if they had any siblings, and if so, how many.…”

“…In this study, we used data from the Greek part of the Global Asthma Network (GAN) study, and we aimed to assess four issues: (a) the independent association of high fruit intake, cooked vegetables, and raw vegetables on current asthma (defined as having any wheeze or whistle in the past 12 months; (b) the association of high intake of cooked and raw vegetables combined on current asthma; (c) the association of the high consumption of all three groups with current asthma; and (d) the possible modification of the aforementioned associations by parental education (as a proxy of family SES) in adolescents living in an urban environment in Greece [ 15 ].…”

The Care of Asthma Patients in Communities with Limited Resources

“…Since this is a challenge in communities with limited resources, investigators have proposed strategies to improve access. Among these strategies, those proposed in 2018 by the Global Asthma Network, are among the most comprehensive 20 and include steps that can be taken by patients, providers, governments, and international agencies to assist in this regard.…”

What Is Asthma?

“…This Special Issue has also the privilege and the honor of including the first results from the Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I study [ 14 ]. Its predecessor, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), made possible in great part by some of the authors of this paper, namely, Innes Asher, Philippa Ellwood, Neil Pearce and David Strachan, was an enormous breakthrough in asthma epidemiology in children.…”