[01] Al Behandy N. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Hussein H., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Al Faisal W., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [04] El Sawaf E., Staff Development, Health Centers Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [05] Wasfy A., Statistics and Research Department, Ministry of Health, Dubai, UAE. [06] Alshareef N., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [07] Altheeb A. A. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE.

Background: Asthma is a large and growing threat to children’s health and well-being. It affects 5-10% of the population or an estimated 23.4 million persons, including 7 million children in U.S. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Almost 1 in 8 school-aged children are affected by asthma. Objectives: To study the food habits among adolescents and relation with incidence and severity of asthma among preparatory and secondary schools students in Dubai. Methodology: This is a cross sectional study, conducted among students in preparatory and secondary schools “Governmental and Private” in Dubai, U.A.E. Computer program EPI-Info version "6.04” was used for calculation of the minimum sample size required. A multistage stratified random sample was used. The strata were based upon geographical districts (Bur-Dubai and Diera), type of schools (governmental or private), educational grade (7th through 12th) and sex (males and females). The total sample size reached 1639 students. Results: The prevalence of asthma was higher among those who had a low AFHC score as compared to those with a high score (17% and 13.5% respectively), the same pattern was seen among those with medium AFHC score (16.6%) however the risk was not statistically significant. Results were confirmed by considering AFHC score as a continuous variable where when the mean AFHC score among asthmatics (10.6 ± 4.2) was compared with the mean score among non-asthmatics (10.8 ± 4.3) the difference was also found to be non-significant. There was no evidence that the risk of persistent asthma was associated with the AFHC score. The mean AFHC score among intermittent asthmatics (10.8 ± 4.2) was compared with the mean score among persistent asthmatics (10.4 ± 4.4) the difference was also found to be non-significant (t=0.606, p=0.545).Conclusion: Adolescents food habits are important. Even the differences were statistically not significant, future studies are needed in order to further investigate this issue. Appropriately designed intervention needs to be developed to address the risk of adolescent food habit.

Asthma Severity, Incidence, Adolescents, Dubai

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