title: Increasing asthma prevalence in a rural New Zealand adolescent population: 1975-89.
abstract: A survey of asthma symptoms and spirometry in 435 adolescent schoolchildren was undertaken in 1989 in a rural, largely Maori population. The survey questionnaires were identical to those used in a 1975 survey at the same school. The prevalence of reported asthma or wheeze significantly increased from 26.2% to 34.0%. This increase occurred in groups reporting asthma, and also those reporting wheeze unassociated with colds, but without a previous diagnosis of asthma. There was a tendency for a rise in reported wheeze in Europeans (24.3% to 27.4%) and a significant rise in Maoris (27.1% to 36.2%). The reclassification of other respiratory problems did not account for the increase. Data from this study provides evidence that there has been a rise in the prevalence of asthma in this New Zealand population over a time period of 14 years.
authors: Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Shaw
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Crane
authors: T V
authors: TV
authors: O'Donnell
authors: L E
authors: LE
authors: Porteous
authors: E D
authors: ED
authors: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors