Abstract:
Introduction-asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. About
300 million people worldwide were affected by asthma leading to approximately
250,000 deaths per year. Khat having amphetamine like effect induces the release
of catecholamine.. This study deals with the remedial effect of khat on bronchial
asthma and shed light in providing new therapeutic option for the treatment of
asthma.
Objective-to investigate the remedial effect of khat on bronchial asthma
Methods - comparative cross sectional study was conducted in JUSH Adult Chest
Clinic on170 asthmatic patients with a 1.4 to 1 ratio of non-chewer to chewer
between November 2010 and January 2010.Interviewer administered
questionnaire, patient history and pulmonary function test using Spirometer was
used to collect the data.
Result and discussion –of 170 asthmatic patients 72 were chewers and 98 were
non chewers Forty nine (68.1%) of chewer and 51(56.1%) non chewer asthmatic
patients had experience of asthma symptoms in less than one time per week.
Thirty seven (51.4%) chewers and 38(38%) of non chewers had frequency of
night time awake in less than two times per month. Forty two (58.3%) chewers
and 53(54.1 %) non chewers had frequency of β2 agonist use in less than two days
per week. The mean FEV1% of chewers and non chewers was 62% and 46%
respectively while their PEFR% was 40% and 26%.The above differences
encountered between chewer and non chewer asthmatic patients apparently
because khat has amphetamine like effect and an increase in dopamine release
plus inhibition of Ach.
Conclusion-in conclusion, chewer asthmatic patients had improved FEV1 and
PEFR than non chewers with a less frequent asthma attack and less frequent use
of β2 agonist.
Recommendations-as asthma is heterogeneous disease patient’s close
supervision in the disease management is compulsory. khat should be considered
as partly medicinal plant as it has effect on air way modulation.
