Asthma in developing countries in the Asia‐Pacific Region (APR)

Abstract

AbstractThere is growing interest in the epidemiology of asthma in developing countries, especially in the Asia‐Pacific Region (APR). A number of reviews have been published in this field, but a comprehensive synthesis of overall data has not been reported. Here, we summarized the burden, risk factors and challenges of asthma management in developing countries with a specific emphasis on the APR by consolidating evidence from both systematic and narrative reviews published up until February 2023. We found that although asthma prevalence in low and low‐middle‐income countries (LMICs) is known to be generally lower compared to high‐income countries, the burden is substantially greater. Studies conducted in APR LMIC have reported a range of risk factors, including pre‐ and post‐natal factors, environmental considerations, lifestyle measures, individual features and genetics. The low and inequitable distribution of quality preventive and curative health care, a lack of advanced diagnostic measures, non‐availability and non‐affordability of novel therapeutics, cultural beliefs and practices, and diverse disease phenotypes make it challenging to achieve optimal asthma control in the region. Hence, we call for the development of a region‐specific blueprint for action to mitigate this challenging situation, to help reduce the burden of asthma in APR LMIC.