To view the referenced report
"Children's Health and the Environment in North America" visit
www.cec.org
ONE IN TEN CANADIAN CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by difficulty breathing. According to a recent report conducted by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), asthma rates for Canadian children have increased fourfold over the past 20 years. The report estimates that 2.5 million Canadians are affected by asthma - 8 percent of adults and 12 percent of children.1
Key observations sited in the report:
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Since 1994, asthma prevalence has been increasing among children (except for boys aged 4-7 years)
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Boys of all ages have a higher prevalence of asthma than girls
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Boys aged 8-11 have the highest asthma rate with approximately 20% having been diagnosed with asthma2
While researchers do not know the exact cause of asthma, the report suggests that it is linked to indoor and outdoor air quality. Research has indicated that children are especially sensitive to air pollution. According to the study, levels of several air pollutants have dropped over the past 10 years, however, levels of ground-level ozone and fine particle matter have not. Southwestern Ontario experienced the highest numbers of days on which ground-level ozone and particulate matter levels exceeded the Canadian standards. 3
The report states that the prevalence of asthma "represents a tremendous human and economic burden for millions of children and adults in North America". Based on data compiled, respiratory diseases are the leading cause of infant hospitalization in Canada.
The committee recommends further research to identify the potential factors responsible for increased asthma prevalence rates. A collaborative effort between government and industry in order to decrease contaminants and improve air quality is essential.
As asthma diagnosis and hospitalizations continue to be on the rise, patient education and the development of individualized asthma action plans are essential. Healthcare professionals should take the opportunity to review each patient's asthma self-management guidelines. And finally, to recommend an AeroChamber MAX* valved holding chamber (VHC) to ensure medication gets where it's needed - to the lungs, as well as a TruZone* peak flow meter to monitor and record peak flow trends at home and help prevent hospital visits.
1,2,3 Children's Health and the Environment in North America. Country Report: Canada. Prepared by the Government of Canada.
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