Time trends and seasonal patterns of asthma deaths and hospitalisations among Maori and non-Maori.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the time trends and seasonal patterns in asthma mortality and hospitalisations in Maori and non-Maori.


METHODS
We studied asthma deaths in Maori and non-Maori during 1962-1998 and asthma hospitalisations during 1976-1998 in the 5-34 and 35-74 year age-groups. Average monthly mortality and hospital discharge rates were calculated for 1978-1998 to observe the seasonal patterns.


RESULTS
The two asthma mortality epidemics of the 1960s and 1970s affected Maori disproportionately, with the peak rates in 1979 being twice that of non-Maori (7.4 vs 3.7 per 100 000) although the rates are now similar. Hospitalisation rates for Maori were consistently higher than non-Maori with the rates remaining elevated until 1987. The most recent hospitalisation figures show a fall of 61.2% from the 1987 rate. For Maori in the 5-34 year age-group, deaths were highest in spring while hospitalisations peaked in the winter month of May.


CONCLUSIONS
Although asthma mortality and hospitalisation rates for Maori have declined over the period under study, Maori continue to experience more severe asthma and have a higher number of hospital admissions for asthma than non-Maori.
Ellison-Loschmann
L
L
Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington. l.ellison-loschmann@massey.ac.nz
Cheng
S
S
Pearce
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D012621:Seasons; D044465:White People