In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports , researchers examined the association between adherence to a Western-style dietary pattern and the likelihood of asthma and its symptoms among children and adolescents in Yazd, Iran. Study: Association between a western diet and asthma among children and adolescents . Image Credit: Artur_eM / Shutterstock Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with genetic and environmental factors.
Globally, asthma's burden on patients and healthcare systems is increasing, causing about 15 million disability-adjusted life years lost annually. Around 300 million people have asthma, with prevalence rising. Though more common in high-income countries, low-income countries are also affected.
Childhood asthma prevalence is 10.1% in Brazil, 5.35% in India, 10.
6% in Oman, and 6% in Iran. Risk factors include no breastfeeding, socioeconomic status, infections, and dietary intake. Further research is needed to confirm the relationship between a Western dietary pattern and childhood asthma, particularly in the Middle East, where dietary habits are rapidly changing.
The present cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2020 as part of the Global Asthma Network (GAN). Using cluster sampling, 7214 children (6-7 years) and 3026 adolescents (13-14 years) from 36 elementary and 48 high schools participated, achieving 71.3% and 83.
5% response rates, respectively. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), data collection involved online.