PREVALENCE OF ATOPIC ECZEMA WITH OR WITHOUT WHEEZE IN KOSOVAR
ADOLESCENTS: ROLE OF GENDER, EXERCISE AND PARACETAMOL.
Abstract
Objectives To characterise the epidemiology of atopic eczema in
adolescents from Kosovo, an area of very low prevalence of the condition
and to know whether the same factors are associated to eczema with or
without comorbid wheezing symptoms. Methods The cross-sectional
survey Global Asthma Network validated questionnaire was self-completed
by adolescents 13-14 years of age in the school setting from the main
cities of Kosovo: Ferizaj, Gjakova, Gjilan, Peja, Prishtina and Prizren.
Atopic eczema symptoms and diagnosis was put in relation with the
environmental questionnaire which included questions on smoking; pet
ownership; paracetamol use, truck traffic; siblings; time spent using
screens or watching television; and exercise. Additionally, height and
weight were measured at school. Results The prevalence of
eczema symptoms ranged from 2.2% in Ferizaj to 5.5% in Gjakova. Severe
symptoms were <1% in all cities. Eczema ever ranged from
3.0% in Ferizaj to 6.4% in Prizren. Factors significantly associated
to the prevalence of current eczema symptoms in the metanalysis were
male sex (pooled aOR 0.50; 95%CI 0.37-0.66); exercise (pooled aOR 2.79;
95%CI 1.89-4.10); and paracetamol intake (pooled 1.86; 95%CI
1.32-2.64). The corresponding figures for eczema ever were: 0.68 95%CI
0.44-1.06; 2.07 95%CI 1.48-2.90; and 1.19 95%CI 0.88-1.60. The
associations tended to be higher in the subpopulation with eczema and
wheeze comorbidity. Conclusions The prevalence of atopic eczema
is very low in Kosovo and is associated to female sex, exercise, and
paracetamol intake. Those associations are higher when eczema and
wheezing are comorbid conditions.