Epidemiology

Paediatric asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease globally and remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. The prevalence appears to have plateaued in affluent countries, decreased in low-income countries, and increased in lower-middle-income countries.[4]​ Prevalence remains higher in high-income countries than in low- and middle-income countries.[5]

In the US, the estimated prevalence of current asthma in children is:[6]​​ 

  • 1.9% for ages 0-4 years

  • 7.5% for ages 5-11 years

One mixed-effects meta-regression model of 220 population-based studies from 88 countries reported the following prevalence estimates for asthma:[5]

  • Current asthma, 13.41% for ages 5-9 years and 10.95% for ages 10-14 years

  • Ever asthma, 17.79% for ages 5-9 years and 16.07% for ages 10-14 years

A significant number of children and adolescents aged 5-18 years experience exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), with a higher prevalence among athletes and those with asthma.[7] The estimated worldwide prevalence of exercise-induced wheeze increases with age from 6.4% for ages 6-7 years to 18.2% for ages 13-14 years.[4]

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