Asthma Prevalence in 20s Increases 7-Fold Over 10 Years... Highest Among All Age Groups

"Allergic Rhinitis Related to Increase in Atopic Dermatitis"

Asthma, a condition where the bronchi narrow due to allergic inflammation of the lungs, is primarily known to occur in the elderly. However, over the past decade, the prevalence of asthma among people in their 20s in South Korea has increased more than sevenfold, indicating a rapid rise in asthma cases among younger age groups.

A research team led by Professors Oh Yeonmok, Lee Sewon, and Lee Jaeseung from the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Seoul Asan Medical Center analyzed data from over 92,000 individuals based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018. They examined changes in asthma prevalence by age group and reported on the 6th that the prevalence of asthma among people in their 20s increased from 0.7% to 5.1%.

Professors Yeonmok Oh, Sewon Lee, and Jaeseung Lee from the Department of Pulmonology at Asan Medical Center, Seoul (from left to right).

In particular, the age group with the highest asthma prevalence, those in their 70s, had an asthma prevalence of approximately 4.6% as of 2018, and those in their 60s had about 3.8%. The prevalence among people in their 20s was the highest across all age groups and showed the greatest increase.

The exact cause of this trend has not been identified, but it is presumed to be related to the increased incidence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis among people in their 20s. Previous studies have shown that allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are associated with the development of asthma. This recent study confirmed a strong correlation between the recent increase in allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis and the rise in asthma prevalence among South Koreans in their 20s.

Specifically, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in people in their 20s rose from about 17.2% in 2007 to approximately 23.5% in 2018, while atopic dermatitis increased from about 5.9% to 11.7% during the same period. Additionally, throughout the entire study period, about 44.6% of asthma patients in their 20s also had allergic rhinitis, and about 25.3% had atopic dermatitis. When the research team analyzed the relationship between asthma occurrence and factors known to be related to asthma?including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, gender, income, education level, smoking experience, exposure to secondhand smoke, and obesity?only allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis showed statistically significant correlations.

Professor Oh Yeonmok stated, "Although the exact reasons for the increase in asthma cases among people in their 20s in South Korea have not yet been clarified, the recent rise in young asthma patients appears to be related to allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. We will continue to maintain interest and pursue further research to identify the causes."

He added, "Asthma is a chronic disease that, with consistent management, does not significantly interfere with daily life. Young people tend to think asthma is a condition far removed from themselves, but if symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent unexplained coughing, or wheezing occur, it is very important to visit a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment to manage the condition steadily."

This research was recently published in the international academic journal Journal of Thoracic Disease (IF=2.5).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.