Trends in hospital admissions for childhood asthma in Oslo, Norway, 1980-95.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of asthma and quality of asthma care both influence hospital admission rates for childhood asthma. Therefore, we aimed to assess possible changes in the hospital admission rate for acute asthma in Oslo, Norway, from 1980 to 1995, as well as evaluate the possible effect of changes in asthma treatment upon hospitalization for acute asthma in this period.


METHODS
All pediatric patient records from the two municipal hospitals in Oslo from 1980 through 1995 with the discharge diagnoses (ICD-9) acute asthma, acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and/or atelectasis were thoroughly reviewed.


RESULTS
Of the 3,538 children admitted for acute asthma, 66% were boys and 75% were younger than 4 years, and the admittance rate increased significantly among children aged 0-3 years. First admissions increased throughout the study, whereas readmissions, as well as the mean duration of hospital stay, decreased significantly. Prophylactic treatment with inhaled steroids prior to admission increased over 1980-89, but stabilized thereafter. The use of a short course of systemic steroids during admission increased markedly from 1991.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of increasing first admission rate as well as overall admission rate for acute asthma in children under 4 years of age, but decreasing readmissions as well as number of treatment days in hospital, probably reflect changes in the management of the disease, as well as an increasing prevalence of childhood asthma.
Jónasson
G
G
Paediatric Section for Allergy and Pulmonology, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Lødrup Carlsen
K C
KC
Leegaard
J
J
Carlsen
K H
KH
Mowinckel
P
P
Halvorsen
K S
KS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence
D005938:Glucocorticoids