The incidence of asthma cases presenting to the Emergency Department and District Clinics of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has risen four-fold over the last decade. The Asthma Clinic receives referrals primarily from these sources. This ongoing study sought to identify individuals who may have asthma who have not been evaluated in the Asthma Clinic.

Participants of World Asthma Day, conducted in Kingstown's Open-Market, were asked to respond to a self-report questionnaire of asthma symptoms. All subjects were consented.

Of 48 individuals (mean age 28 years, 59% female) completing the questionnaire, none reported a previous evaluation in the Asthma Clinic. Seventy-three percent reported having physician-diagnosed asthma. Of these, 54% reported repeated episodes of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing in the last month, 76% reported nocturnal episodes, 57% reported exertional symptoms, and 62% reported missed school or work days over the past year due to asthma. Of the 27% not diagnosed with asthma, 100% reported repeated episode of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing in the previous two years, 10% reported having been diagnosed with bronchitis, and 64% reported nocturnal and daytime symptoms over the past month, with 45% reporting medication use for these symptoms. All subjects requested an appointment with the Asthma Clinic.

The Asthma Clinic in St. Vincent is underutilized. World Asthma Day was a successful vehicle to educate and motivate those with asthma symptoms to seek care. Further studies are required to assess barriers to accessing care in the Asthma Clinic.