Population-based health surveillance data is essential for healthcare
and public health planning. Preventable chronic
respiratory conditions cause premature deaths and result in
decreased work productivity and negative economic impact
on families, communities, and the society [5, 35]. Furthermore,
the presence of respiratory conditions such as chronic
bronchitis and asthma is associated with higher risk of other
disorders, which can lead to increase in the overall disease
burden. Our study shows that chronic bronchitis, emphysema,
asthma, wheeze, and dry cough are quite prevalent
among UAE adolescents and should hence be prioritized
in the UAE national public health agenda. Specifically, the
prevalence proportions of chronic bronchitis and emphysema
obtained in our sample are comparable to those in the
US for the age category 18–44 years [36]; in addition, results of
the ISAAC questionnaire in countries neighboring the UAE
suggest that the prevalence of asthma among adolescents is
between 5 and 10%, of wheeze between 6 and 11%, and of dry
nocturnal cough below 20% [37].