Prevalence of asthma in Danish children aged 8-10 years.
The aim of the study was to estimate the point prevalence of asthma in schoolchildren aged 8-10 y in the County of Copenhagen, Denmark. In all, 1040 schoolchildren were randomly chosen for the study and a total of 774 completed the study. The suspicion of asthma was based on a questionnaire about respiratory symptoms and on daily registration of respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) for 4 weeks. The conclusive diagnosis was based on interview, clinical examination, spirometry and an exercise test. The prevalence of children with asthma diagnosed by their GPs was 31/774 (4.0%). A further 20/774 (2.6%) were diagnosed as having asthma. There is evidence to suggest that asthma is less frequent in Denmark than in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
Prahl
P
P
Department of Paediatrics, University of Copenhagen, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
Christiansen
P
P
Hjuler
I
I
Kaae
H H
HH
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence