title: Prevalence of asthma among 12 year old children in New Zealand and South Wales: a comparative survey.
abstract: A survey of 12 year old schoolchildren was carried out in New Zealand and South Wales, the same questionnaire and exercise provocation test being used. The prevalence of a history of asthma at any time was higher in New Zealand (147/873, 17%) than in South Wales (116/965, 12%). The New Zealand children were also more likely than the Welsh children to have a history of "wheeze ever" (27% versus 22%), and wheeze brought on by running (15% versus 10.5%). The sex ratio of asthmatic and wheezy children was very similar in the two countries. A history of hospital admission for chest trouble was twice as common in New Zealand as in South Wales. An exercise test produced a fall in peak expiratory flow rate of 15% or more in more New Zealand children (12.2%) than Welsh children (7.7%). These results suggest that the prevalence of childhood asthma is higher in New Zealand than in South Wales.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Hospital, Hastings, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Limb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology