Rural to urban migration contributes to the high burden of asthma in the urban area

Clin Respir J. 2019 Sep;13(9):560-566. doi: 10.1111/crj.13058. Epub 2019 Aug 14.

Abstract

Introduction: It is unknown whether rural-urban migration contributes to worse the burden of asthma in the cities.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether subjects with asthma that migrated from rural areas to a large urban center in Brazil have more severe disease than asthmatic subjects that was born and always lived in the urban area.

Methods: This is a case-control study. We enrolled two groups of subjects with asthma currently living in a large urban center in Brazil: 486 subjects with moderate-severe asthma and 432 subjects with mild asthma.

Results: Rural-urban migrants had higher odds of moderate-severe asthma [adjusted OR 1.57, 95% CI (1.18-2.01)] and uncontrolled symptoms of asthma [adjusted OR 1.80, 95% CI (1.16-2.76)] than urban-born subjects.

Conclusions: Rural-urban migrants in Brazil have more severe asthma than urban-born subjects. Our results suggest that rural-urban migration is associated with the high burden of asthma in the urban area.

Keywords: case-control study; environment; inhaled corticosteroids; treatment; uncontrolled symptoms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / epidemiology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cost of Illness
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones