ABDULMAJEED ALRUWAILI,THAMER ARAR ALRUWAILI ,ABDULAZIZ KHALAF ALSALEH,MAJED MUIDH ALBOGAMI,FEHAID MOHAMMED ALGHTANI,AFRAA FAISAL SAKLOU,KHAZNAH AWAD ALSHAMMARI
DOI: https://doi.org/Objective: This systematic review evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma among children in Saudi Arabia, synthesizing evidence from studies published between 2020 and 2025.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search across PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus identified eight eligible studies.
Results: Prevalence ranges between 13.8%- 31.5%. Key risk factors included household smoking (OR: 2.34), exposure to incense (Bakhour), family history of asthma, and proximity to industrial areas. Indoor environmental triggers (e.g., carpeting, central AC) and traffic-related pollution were also significant contributors. Despite the high burden, asthma management remained suboptimal, with only 53% of children receiving written asthma control plans.
Conclusion: The study highlights regional disparities and emphasizes the need for targeted public health interventions, including pollution control, smoking cessation programs, and improved asthma education. Limitations include reliance on parent-reported data and cross-sectional designs, underscoring the need for longitudinal studies with clinical validation.
