OBJECTIVETo analyze possible difference in bronchial asthma between ethnic and geographic groups and explore its correlates among Uygur and Han adults in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six clinically diagnosed asthmatic patients at Turpan Prefecture Hospital, Xinjiang, 86 of Uygur and 80 of Han ethnic, and 166 1:1 matched controls from ophthalmological outpatient department at the same hospital were recruited into the study. Interview with questionnaire was conducted and serum levels of eosinophilic cation protein (S-ECP), total IgE (T-IgE) and specific IgE (S-IgE) were measured for all of the participants to study related factors for asthma with univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTSBronchial infection (OR(U) = 5.111, 95%CI: 1.203 - 21.710; OR(H) = 2.498, 95%CI: 1.471 - 5.069), family history of asthma (OR(U) = 3.078, 95%CI: 1.812 - 5.188; OR(H) = 2.711, 95%CI: 1.010 - 6.176), personal allergy history (OR(U) = 2.083, 95%CI: 1.043 - 4.162; OR(H) = 3.998, 95%CI: 1.739 - 9.198), weather change (OR(U) = 2.218, 95%CI: 1.199 - 3.778; OR(H) = 1.733, 95%CI: 1.004 - 2.994) and positive S-IgE (OR(U) = 1.592, 95%CI: 1.018 - 2.491; OR(H) = 3.858, 95%CI: 2.246 - 8.507) correlated with asthma in patients of both Uygur and Han ethnic. Percentage of asthma attack induced by respiratory infection [59.30% (51/86)] and weather change [36.05% (31/86)] in Uygur patients was significantly higher than that in Han ethnic [42.50% (34/80) and 21.25% (17/80), respectively], but percentage of those with personal allergy history [48.75% (39/80)] and positive S-IgE [52.50% (42/80)] in Han ethnic was significantly higher than that in Uygur [32.56% (28/86) and 30.23% (26/86), respectively]. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma of both Uygur and Han ethnic [(S-ECP(U) = 7.95 +/- 3.98) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (11.21 +/- 4.74) microg/L, T- IgE(U) = (72.23 +/- 45.92) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (108.81 +/- 64.07) kU/L, respectively]were significantly higher than those in controls of the same ethnic [S- ECP(U) = (1.94 +/- 1.16) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (2.07 +/- 1.63) microg/L, T-IgE(U) = (46.19 +/- 32.47) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (50.97 +/- 38.51) kU/L; t values were 8.96, 10.52, 2.81, 4.97, P < 0.01], higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur (t values were 3.01, 2.68, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBronchial infection, family asthma history, personal allergy history, weather change and positive S-IgE all were important correlates of asthma in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma increased during its attacks, higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur. Genetic and environmental factors may be involved in occurrence and development of asthma.