Objective: To determine the prevalence of congenital anterior chest wall deformities in 11- to 14-year-old students. Methods: Students participating in the study were recruited from public schools in the city of Manaus, Brazil. The statistically significant sample (precision, 1%; 95% CI) comprised 1,332 students. Pectus deformities were identified by physical examination of the chest, and the individuals with one of these deformities completed a questionnaire regarding heredity and symptoms resulting from the chest abnormality. Results: The mean age of the participants was 11.7 years. The prevalence of pectus abnormalities was 1.95% (pectus excavatum: 1.275%; pectus carinatum: 0.675%). Of the 26 students with a pectus deformity, 17 (65.4%) had pectus excavatum, and 18 (69.2%) were male. Concomitant scoliosis was observed in 3 cases (11.5%). A family history of pectus was reported by 17 students (65.4%), and 17 (65.4%) reported chest pain, dyspnea or palpitations. Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of pectus deformities (1.95%) was lower than that reported in other studies conducted in Brazil (3.6-4.9%) but was higher than that reported in the literature (mean, 1%).

Keywords: Musculoskeletal abnormalities; Prevalence; Funnel chest.

Pectus excavatum (PEX) is the most frequent congenital deformity of the anterior chest wall and is defined as the dislocation of the medial or inferior portion of the sternal region toward the spinal column. There are various ways to measure the deformity. In this study, we present an objective method of assessing such deformity, the anthropometric index for PEX (AI-PEX). The AI-PEX was developed in the Thoracic Surgery Department of the Heart Institute - University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas. The anthropometric measurements are taken during the physical examination. We herein report two cases involving patients with PEX assessed using the AI-PEX and treated with the minimally invasive Nuss technique. The measurements were always taken at the point of greatest deformity. The patients were assessed on the day of the operation and again at 60 days after the surgery. The AI-PEX allowed us to obtain a satisfactory assessment of the defect. In both patients, the post-operative evolution was favorable.

Keywords: Thoracic wall; Thoracic surgery, Video-assisted; Funnel chest.

Among the deformities of the thoracic wall,pectus carinatum has not received the same attention as has pectus excavatum. Few pulmonologists, pediatricians, and thoracic surgeons are aware of the approaches to treating this condition. As a consequence, patients with pectus carinatum are not referred for treatment. This deformity, with an incidence of 1:1000 teenagers, is oligosymptomatic. However, for aesthetic and emotional reasons, it accounts for a large number of medical appointments. Such patients are introverted and do not engage in physical activities, since they are unwilling to expose their chest, which also discourages them from going to the beach or to swimming pools. The diagnosis is clinical and visual, and details are obtained through chest X-rays and computed tomography. The treatment is based on a well-known organogram that summarizes orthopedic and surgical procedures. Dynamic compression, combined with physical exercises, is indicated for teenagers with flexible thorax in inferior and lateral pectus carinatum, with limited indication for those with superior pectus carinatum. For individuals of any age with rigid thorax, surgery is indicated for aesthetic reasons. Among the techniques described, the modified sternum chondroplasty stands out due to the excellent aesthetic results achieved.

Keywords: Thoracic wall; Bone Diseases, Developmental/therapeutics; Surgery

Objective: To identify and classify risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients, as well as to evaluate medical practices regarding prophylaxis for the disease. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study, carried out between January and March of 2006, involving inpatients at three hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Risk stratification for VTE was based on the criteria established by the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and by the International Union of Angiology. Clinical, surgical and medication-related risk factors were analyzed. The statistical analysis of the data obtained was conducted, adopting an alpha error of 5% and 95% CI. Qualitative data were analyzed using the chi-square test, whereas quantitative data were analyzed using Student's t-test. Results: Of the 1,036 patients included (total number of admissions, 1,051), 515 (49.7%) were male, and 521 (50.3%) were female. A total of 23 risk factors for VTE were identified (total number of occurrences, 2,319). The stratified risk for VTE was 50.6%, 16.6% and 30.8% among the admissions of high-, moderate- and low-risk cases, respectively. In 73.3% of the admissions, nonpharmacological prophylaxis was not employed at any point during the study period. In 74% of those classified as high- or moderate-risk cases, no prophylactic medications were administered. Conclusions: This study showed that, in the population studied, risk factors were common and that prophylactic measures were not employed in patients prone to developing VTE and its complications.

Keywords: Venous thromboembolism; Risk factors; Venous thrombosis/prevention & control.

Background: Pectus excavatum is characterized by concave growth of costal cartilage and depression of the lower sternum. Clinical means of classifying these malformations are few and difficult to apply. Objective: To devise clinical tools for quantifying the deformity and comparing preoperative and postoperative findings. Method: A total of 10 pectus excavatum patients who underwent surgery in which the modified Robicsek technique was used by the Thoracic Surgery Group of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, were clinically and radiologically evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Ten control individuals, presenting no thoracic or radiological abnormalities, were submitted to identical evaluations. Deformities at the sternum notch level and at the point of maximum deformity were assessed using the anthropometric index and the Haller index. Results: Multivariate analysis of anthropometric index means revealed significant differences between preoperative and control values and between preoperative and postoperative values, as well as a non-significant difference between postoperative and control values. The same results were obtained when Haller index means were analyzed. A paired comparison of preoperative and postoperative means showed two distinct groups. An 86% canonical correlation was found between the anthropometric index and the Haller index. Conclusion: Patients with pectus excavatum can be quantitatively assessed in the preoperative and postoperative periods through the use of the anthropometric index, which allows objective, comparative evaluation of the results and is easily performed.

Keywords: Funnel Chest. Anthropometry/methods.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with smoking among medical students, as well as to evaluate the profile of this group. Methods: A total of 316 medical students (98.7% of the total) at the University of Passo Fundo, in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil, completed a self-report questionnaire with questions on tobacco intake and on attitudes related to smoking. In accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines, the students were classified as daily smokers, occasional smokers, former smokers or nonsmokers, those in the two first categories being considered active smokers. Results: We found that 16.5% of the students were active smokers (daily smokers, 5.4%; occasional smokers, 11.1%) and that 3.5% were former smokers. The mean age was 22.2 ± 2.4 years. Factors significantly associated with the smoking habit (p < 0.05) were male gender, paternal smoking, regular alcohol consumption and use of antidepressants or anxiolytics. For the majority (69.2%) of the smokers, the age at smoking onset was 15-19 years of age, and the main motivations to start smoking were self-initiative and influence of friends. The conceptualization of smoking as an illness was significantly higher among the nonsmokers. In 70.6% of the smokers, tobacco intake was 1-10 cigarettes a day. Among the smokers, 92.3% agreed that smoking is harmful to health, 67.3% had tried to quit smoking, 96.0% believed themselves able to do so, and 87.2% intended to quit smoking. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking remains significant among medical students. Therefore, it is fundamental that we develop more effective strategies for smoking prevention and cessation in order to reduce the number of smokers among future doctors.

Keywords: Smoking; Prevalence; Students, medical; Behavior.

Objective: Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) is a surgical treatment for PE. During the procedure, a specialized introducer is used to tunnel across the mediastinum for thoracoscopic insertion of a metal bar. There have been reported cases of cardiac perforation during this risky step. The large introducer can be a dangerous lever in unskilled hands. We set out to determine the safety and feasibility of using regular instruments (i.e., not relying on special devices or tools) to create the retrosternal tunnel during MIRPE. Methods: This was a preliminary study of MIRPE with regular instruments (MIRPERI), involving 28 patients with PE. We recorded basic patient demographics, chest measurements, and surgical details, as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results: Patients undergoing MIRPERI had Haller index values ranging from 2.58 to 5.56. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications included nausea/vomiting in 8 patients, pruritus in 2, and dizziness in 2, as well as atelectasis, pneumothorax with thoracic drainage, pleural effusion, and dyspnea in 1 patient each. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, the rate of complications associated with MIRPERI was comparable to that reported in the literature for MIRPE. The MIRPERI approach has the potential to improve the safety of PE repair, particularly for surgeons that do not have access to certain special instruments or have not been trained in their use.

Keywords: Funnel chest; Heart injuries; Thoracic wall; Intraoperative complications; Minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of patients with lung cancer. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of patients receiving a histopathological diagnosis of lung cancer between 1995 and 2002 in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Data were collected from the medical archives of three hospitals. Statistical analyses were carried out, and survival curves were generated by means of an actuarial estimator. Results: Of the 352 patients selected, 262 (74.4%) were male and 90 (25.6%) were female. The mean age was 62 years. The following histological types were identified: squamous cell carcinoma, 62.8%; adenocarcinoma, 24.7%; small cell carcinoma, 9.1%; and large cell carcinoma, 3.4%. The most common stages were stages IIIB and IV, in 45% and 21.5%, respectively. Of the total sample, 73.4% were submitted to treatment. Of these, 51.4% underwent radiotherapy; 16.6%, surgery; 15.8%, chemotherapy; and 16.2%, radiotherapy in association with chemotherapy. Cumulative survival rates were low: three-year survival was 6.5%, and five-year survival was 3.5%. Conclusions: In this group of patients with lung cancer, survival rates were considerably lower than those reported in the literature. This might be attributable to the limited access to the specialized health care system and the advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms; Neoplasm staging; Survival.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema among students between 6 and 7 years of age in the city of Londrina, Brazil. Methods: A population-based study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) standardized questionnaire (asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema modules), validated for use in Brazil, in public school students between 6 and 7 years of age. Results: Of the 3,963 questionnaires retrieved, 3,600 (90.8%) were appropriately completed and were used in the analysis. The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema in the last 12 months was 22.0%, 27.3% and 9.6%, respectively. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema was 10.4%, 23.4% and 11.4%, respectively. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis and flexural eczema was 13.6% and 6.6%, respectively. Although symptoms of asthma and rhinitis were more common in males than in females, no gender difference was found regarding atopic eczema symptoms. Conclusions: The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema in our sample was within the range found at the facilities that participated in phases I and III of the ISAAC in Brazil. The low prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma suggests that asthma continues to be underdiagnosed.

Keywords: Public health; Epidemiology; Asthma.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with smoking experimentation and initiation among adolescent students (11-14 years of age). Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study involving adolescent (middle and high school) students at public and private schools in the city of Salvador, Brazil. A multiple-stage sampling protocol was used. The participants completed an anonymous, voluntary, self-report questionnaire. The dependent variables were age at smoking experimentation and smoking initiation. Sociodemographic and educational variables, as well as those related to media influence and alcohol consumption, were considered independent variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, followed by analysis of the fit of the final logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of smoking experimentation was 16.1% (95% CI: 15.1-17.2). Of the 5,347 students evaluated, 757 had experimented with cigarettes, and 462 (61.2%) of those 757 had done so before the age of 15 (mean age at smoking experimentation, 13.9 ± 1.8 years). Smoking initiation was associated with paternal smoking (OR = 1.53; 83% CI = 1.07-2.19) and with media influence (OR = 2.43; 83% CI: 1.46‑4.04). Smoking experimentation was associated with alcohol consumption (OR = 6.04; 83% CI: 4.62-7.88), having friends who smoke (OR = 3.18; 83% CI: 2.54-3.99), having a boyfriend/girlfriend who smokes (OR = 3.42; 83% CI: 1.78-6.56), and coercive/aggressive educational interventions by the parents (OR = 1.60; 83% CI: 1.26‑2.04). Conclusions: Alcohol consumption and the influence of peers and relatives who smoke showed a strong association with smoking experimentation. Paternal smoking and media influence were found to increase the chances of adolescent smoking.

Keywords: Smoking; Adolescence; Health education; Cross-sectional studies; Epidemiologic factors; Brazil.

Objetive: To analyze the variables related to smoking initiation among adolescent students in two high schools (one public and one private) in the city of Belém, Brazil, in 2005. Methods: An anonymous self-report questionnaire - comprising 27 closed questions regarding smoking experimentation, smoking habit, access to buying cigarettes, reasons for smoking experimentation, self-perception regarding academic performance, conversations about smoking with the family, and socioeconomic level - was used for data collection. The study comprised 1520 students: 724 (47.6%) from the private school and 796 (52.4%) from the public school. Results: Mean age of participants was 16.5 years. Of the 1520 students evaluated, 669 (44%) reported experimenting with smoking, and 11% smoked regularly. In the public school and the private school, respectively, 51.2% and 36.7% of the participants had experimented with smoking (p = 0); 14.6% and 7%, respectively, were regular smokers (p = 0). We found that, in both schools, the following factors were associated with smoking initiation and current smoking: curiosity, presence of smokers as social contacts, not being praised for not smoking, and perceiving oneself as having poor or mediocre academic performance. Socioeconomic level was found to be associated with experimentation and current smoking only among experimenters of higher socioeconomic classes (A and B) in the private school. Conclusions: Among the students evaluated, the variable most closely associated with smoking was curiosity. Experimentation and regular tobacco use were more common in the public school than in the private school.

Keywords: Smoking; Epidemiologic factors; Students.

Background: Asthma is considered the most common chronic childhood disease. However, there have been few studies on the prevalence of asthma in Brazil. Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms in school-age children and adolescents living in the city of Duque de Caxias, located in the greater metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. Method: Cross-sectional transversal study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The sample comprised students of 6, 7, 13 and 14 years of age. Results: One group of 2334 students between the ages of 6 and 7 and another composed of 4040 students between the ages of 13 and 14 were evaluated. The prevalence of wheezing within the last 12 months in the younger children was 27.7%, vs. 19% among the adolescents (p < 0.0001). There was a predominance of males in the 6-7 age group (29.9% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.01) and of females in the 13-14 age group (21.9% vs. 15.8%; p < 0.0001). The proportion of previously diagnosed cases of asthma was similar (approximately 10%) for both age brackets. Wheezing upon physical exertion was more prevalent among the adolescents (21.4% vs. 7.8%; p < 0.0001). Symptom severity was higher among female adolescents (severe asthma: 6.6% vs. 4.4%; p = 0.001), although no differences among genders were seen in the 6-7 age group. Conclusion: Asthma prevalence in Duque de Caxias is high, as it is in other Brazilian and Latin American cities. Values are higher in the 6-7 age group, in which symptoms were seen predominantly in males. Among the adolescents, the prevalence and severity of symptoms were higher in females, a recent observation that seems to be a new epidemiological trend of asthma.

Keywords: Key words: Asthma. Epidemiology. Severity of illness index. Cross-sectional studies.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of smoking, as well as to determine the association between smoking and the use of other drugs, among middle and high school students in the Federal District of Brasília, Brazil. Methods: Epidemiological study involving a reference population of students in the District. Our sample comprised 2,661 students from 9 to 19 years of age, in all middle and high school grades. All participating students completed a standard questionnaire. Results were analyzed by gender and type of school (public or private). Results: The prevalence of smoking among students in the District was 10.5%. Smoking was found to be associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. Conclusions: Smoking is a gateway to the use of other drugs.

Keywords: Smoking; Tobacco; Adolescent; Students; Alcohol drinking; Dependency (Psychology).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of asthma among adolescents (13-14 years of age) in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 3,015 adolescents at public and private schools between 2006 and 2007. The participants completed the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Results: The prevalences of "wheezing ever", "wheezing within the last 12 months" (active asthma) and "asthma ever" (physician-diagnosed asthma) were 44.1%, 22.6% and 11.6%, respectively. The prevalences of "wheezing ever" (p = 0.001), "1-3 wheezing attacks within the last 12 months" (p = 0.001), active asthma (p = 0.002), "sleep disturbed due to wheezing less than one night per week" (p < 0.001) and "dry cough at night" (p < 0.001) were higher among girls. Private school students presented higher prevalences of "wheezing ever", active asthma, "1-3 wheezing attacks within the last 12 months", "4-12 wheezing attacks within the last 12 months" and physician-diagnosed asthma (p < 0.001 for all), as well as of "exercise-induced wheezing" (p = 0.032). Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms in students aged 13-14 years in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, was high, predominantly among girls and private school students. The difference between the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma and that of active asthma suggests that asthma was underdiagnosed in the population studied.

Keywords: Asthma/diagnosis; Asthma/epidemiology; Asthma/prevalence.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in students of two distinct age brackets residing in the city of Tangará da Serra, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study of the prevalence of asthma in children from 6 to 7 years of age and adolescents from 13 to 14, using the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, phase 1 questionnaire, validated for use in Brazil. Students who responded affirmatively to question 2 (presence of wheezing in the preceding 12 months) were classified as suffering from asthma. Results: The study comprised 3,362 students, of whom 1,634 (48.6%) were children and 1,728 (51.4%) were adolescents. Of the 1,634 children, 816 (49.9%) were male and 818 (50.1%) were female. Of the 1,728 adolescents, 773 (45.0%) were male and 955 (55.0%) were female. The prevalence of asthma among the children was 25.2%, whereas that among the adolescents was 15.9% (χ2 = 8.34; p = 0.00). The children presented higher prevalences of the following symptoms of asthma than did the adolescents: wheezing ever (54.3%), nocturnal dry cough (43.9%), wheezing in the preceding 12 months (25.2%), and from 1 to 3 attacks of wheezing in the preceding 12 months (19.1%). There were no differences between the two groups regarding physician-diagnosed asthma (approximately 4.5%). There were no statistical differences regarding the prevalence of asthma by gender in the two groups. Conclusions: Tangará da Serra has a high prevalence of asthma in children and adolescents, and this result is compatible with other studies carried out in Brazil and Latin America using the same methodology.

Keywords: Asthma/epidemiology; Child; Adolescent.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among individuals ≥ 15 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis and treated at family health care clinics in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. We evaluated a random sample of 110 patients with tuberculosis, treated at a total of 26 family health care clinics between January and May of 2009. All of the participants completed a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and clinical data, and all underwent HIV testing. In this sample, the prevalence of tuberculosis/HIV co-infection was 3.6% (95% CI: 0.2-7.0).

Keywords: Tuberculosis; HIV seroprevalence; Primary health care.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of asthma attacks treated in public health facilities in the city of Juiz de Fora, Brazil from February 1, 2002 to January 31, 2003. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving monthly analyses performed in order to evaluate the asthma attacks treated. The variables analyzed were patient gender, age, and place of residence, as well as the profile of the visits by age bracket and by the site of the visit. In addition, we attempted to determine whether asthma attacks correlated with temperature or relative humidity. Results: A total of 25,243 patients were treated for asthma attacks, accounting for 11.1% of the total number of visits to pediatric clinics and 2.7% of the total number visits to medical clinics. The mean age of the patients was 11.6 years (median, 4 years), and 52.9% of the patients were male. The analysis of the annual distribution revealed an increase in the number of asthma attacks treated in the months of May (11.5%), June (10.8%), and July (10.9%). Asthma attack presented a strong inverse correlation with temperature (-0.86) and a weak inverse correlation with relative humidity (-0.27). Statistically significant differences, in terms of mean age and gender, were found between patients with asthma attacks treated in emergency rooms and those treated in basic health clinics. The evaluation by age bracket revealed a predominance of males among patients younger than 12 years of age and a predominance of females among those aged 12 or older. Conclusion: We found that asthma represents a significant public health problem in this city. Local strategies are urgently needed in order to increase in the availability of prophylactic treatment.

Keywords: Asthma/epidemiology; Prevalence; Public Hospitals; Brazil

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with experimentation with and current use of water pipes and e-cigarettes among medical students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicentric study involving a convenience sample of students from medical schools in most Brazilian geographic regions. Information about experimentation with and current use of conventional cigarettes, water pipes, and e-cigarettes; beliefs and attitudes toward tobacco products; religiosity; and demographics were collected by means of an online structured questionnaire. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to analyze the association of those factors. Results: Our sample comprised 700 individuals from four Brazilian regions. Prevalence of experimentation with and current use of cigarettes, water pipes, and e-cigarettes were, respectively, 39.1% and 7.9%; 42.6% and 11.4%; and 13.1% and 2.3%. Water pipe experimentation was higher among those who had a sibling (adjusted OR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.24-5.61) or friends (adjusted OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.63-3.31) who smoke. The same occurred regarding e-cigarette experimentation: siblings (adjusted OR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.17-6.50) and friends (adjusted OR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1:45-4.22). Curiosity and scent/taste were the major reasons for water pipe use and e-cigarette experimentation. Although 93% of the responders learned about health damages of smoking during medical school classes, 51.4% reported having experimented with at least one of these tobacco products. Most responders who reported feeling the presence of God/the Holy Spirit in their lives were never experimenters of water pipes (59.2%) or e-cigarettes (55.3%). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of experimentation with tobacco products among medical students whose siblings or friends smoke, despite their knowledge about smoking harms.

Keywords: Education, medical; Health knowledge, attitudes, and practice; Electronic nicotine delivery systems; Smoking water pipes; Religion.

Objective: Smoking is a serious problem that has a devastating impact on health. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of and factors influencing smoking among medical and non-medical students in Tbilisi, Georgia, as well as to determine whether medical education has an impact on smoking. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Tbilisi State Medical University and Tbilisi State University, both of which are located in Tbilisi, Georgia. A total of 400 4th-year students (200 students at each university) were asked to complete standardized questionnaires. Results: Of the sample as a whole, 48.75% were identified as smokers and 51.25% were identified as nonsmokers. The mean age was 20.24 years among smokers and 20.26 years among nonsmokers. Of the medical students, 49.5% were smokers, as were 48.0% of the non-medical students. The male-to-female ratio in the study population was 0.9:1.1. Smoking was found to have a strong relationship with gender, males accounting for 65% of all smokers. Of the smokers, 56.9% stated that they would like to quit smoking (for health or financial reasons). Of the medical students, 59.5% expressed a willingness to quit smoking, as did 54.2% of the non-medical students. Conclusions: There is a need to improve smoking education for undergraduate students. Special attention should be given to the inclusion of anti-smoking education in undergraduate curricula, as well as to the implementation of smoking prevention campaigns at institutions of higher education. However, such measures will be effective only if tobacco control policies are strictly enforced on the national level as well.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease among adolescents. Objective: To determine the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol to evaluate adolescents in the city of Santa Maria, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study evaluating 3066 schoolchildren from 13 to 14 years of age, selected by random sampling, as indicated in the ISAAC protocol. Data were collected from March to June of 2003 using the standardized ISAAC questionnaire, which was completed by the adolescents in the classroom and under the supervision of the researchers. Results: A total of 3066 valid questionnaires (95.5%) were collected. Among the asthma-related symptoms evaluated, the following prevalences were determined: history of wheezing: 42.1%; wheezing within the last 12 months: 16.7%; four or more wheezing attacks within the last 12 months: 1.9%; sleep disturbance on one or more nights a week within the last 12 months: 3.8%; impaired speech within the last 12 months: 3.8%; history of asthma: 14.9%; wheezing after exercise within the last 12 months: 19%; dry cough at night within the last 12 months: 32.4%. Values were significantly higher among females. Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma-related symptoms among adolescents living in the city of Santa Maria was high, predominantly among the females. However, the rate was comparable to the international average and was lower than those observed in larger metropolitan areas in Brazil. These findings underscore the need for regional studies in order to better understand the prevalence of asthma in Brazil.

Keywords: Asthma. Adolescent. Epidemiology.