Uncontrolled and under-diagnosed asthma in a Damascus shelter during the Syrian crisis

According to the United Nations (UN), 6.5 million people have been internally displaced within Syria since the start of the civil war (1). As of 2016, 1.7 million internally displaced persons were living in camps and collective centres, including shelters (2). Studies have shown that poor shelter or dwelling conditions (such as overcrowding, lack of basic resources, and poor sanitation) may lead to deteriorations in health (3-6). For example, in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the prevalence of asthma, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and community-acquired pneumonia were two to three times greater compared to the previous year, with half of the community-acquired pneumonia cases originating in evacuation shelters (6). Individuals with asthma may be more susceptible to compromised living conditions and stress leading to a higher risk of asthma exacerbations and other complications (3-6). It is important to identify uncontrolled asthmatics and those who are underdiagnosed or at-risk of developing asthma in order to target preventive strategies and asthma management to minimize the deterioration of asthma control