title: Descriptive epidemiology of asthma in Trinidad, West Indies.
abstract: This cross-sectional study documents the demographic features of asthmatics seeking acute asthma care at four institutions on the island of Trinidad from January 1 to December 31, 1997. More than 15,000 (15,035) different patients made 27,353 visits during the study period. Pediatric and adolescent male patients outnumbered females, but this was reversed in patients aged 20-69 years. Frequency of visits per patient ranged from 1 to 242. Significant variation in monthly admissions was observed; admission rates were highest in the last quarter of the year but were lowest in July and August. The overall crude prevalence rate was estimated at 1.71 per 100 (range 1.16-2.34).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences-St. Augustine University of the West Indies, Trinidad. mmonteil@tstt.net.tt
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Monteil
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hassanally
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trinidade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014900:West Indies