Abstract

Asthma is a major health concern - especially in Saudi Arabia. Despite the data available, it is hard to pin down a consistent estimate that reflects the current situation. This review aimed to determine the prevalence of asthma in Saudi Arabia and identify the related risk factors. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42025643181). Primary outcomes were asthma prevalence among children and adults; secondary outcomes include risk factors, rhinitis, and eczema prevalence rates. PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception until December 2024. Two reviewers worked independently to go through the studies, extract data, and assess quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Depending on the heterogeneity, either fixed or random- effects models were used in STATA 17.0. Thirty-seven studies with 91,114 participants were included. The overall asthma prevalence was 17%, higher in children (19%) than in adults (14%), with regional variations. Gender analysis showed equal prevalence (17%) in males and females. Risk factors included family history (44%), passive smoking (38%), pet ownership (32%), and active smoking (24%). Eczema and rhinitis prevalence were 14% and 23%, respectively. Eczema (15%) and rhinitis (25%) were higher in adults compared to children. Asthma is a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia, with higher prevalence in children. Modifiable risk factors like smoking and pet ownership highlighted the need for targeted interventions. Early detection and preventive strategies are crucial to reducing its burden.

Key words: Asthma, Prevalence, Risk factors, Saudi Arabia, Systematic review, Meta-analysis.