title: Ethnic differences in time trends in asthma prevalence in New Zealand: ISAAC Phases I and III.
abstract: METHODS
  The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase III survey, New Zealand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of asthma symptoms and time trends by ethnicity between ISAAC Phase I (1992-1993) and Phase III (2001-2003).
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on asthma symptoms and environmental exposures was collected in children aged 6-7 years (n = 10,873) and adolescents aged 13-14 years (n = 13,317).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In children, the prevalence of current wheeze was 28.5% in Māori (prevalence odds ratio [POR] = 1.49, 95%CI 1.32-1.68), and 25.2% in Pacific Islanders (POR 1.28, 95%CI 1.07-1.54) compared with 20.7% in Europeans/Pakeha. In adolescents, 29.9% of Māori (POR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.03-1.23) and 20.8% of Pacific Islanders (POR 0.74, 95%CI 0.62-0.87) experienced current wheeze compared to 28.6% of Europeans/Pakeha. Between Phases I and III, the prevalence of current wheeze increased significantly by 0.49%/year in Pacific Islanders, increased non-significantly by 0.12%/year in Māori, and decreased significantly by 0.25%/year in Europeans/Pakeha children. In adolescents, the prevalence of current wheeze increased by 0.05%/year in Pacific Islanders and decreased by 0.33%/year in Europeans/Pakeha and by 0.07%/year in Māori.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnic differences in asthma symptom prevalence in New Zealand have increased. The reasons for this are unclear, but may reflect inequalities in access to health services.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. l.ellison-loschmann@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ellison-Loschmann
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pattemore
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ellwood
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moyes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology