PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - X S Wang
AU  - T N Tan
AU  - L P C Shek
AU  - S Y Chng
AU  - C P P Hia
AU  - N B H Ong
AU  - S Ma
AU  - B W Lee
AU  - D Y T Goh
TI  - The prevalence of asthma and allergies in Singapore; data from two ISAAC surveys seven years apart
AID  - 10.1136/adc.2003.031112
DP  - 2004 May 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - 423--426
VI  - 89
IP  - 5
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/89/5/423.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/89/5/423.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2004 May 01; 89
AB  - Background and Aims: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of asthma has been increasing in the industrialised world. Despite the suggestion of a similar increase in Singapore, the 12 month prevalence of wheeze among schoolchildren in 1994 was 2.5-fold less than that reported in western populations. It was hypothesised that with increasing affluence in Singapore, the asthma prevalence would further increase and approach Western figures. A second ISAAC survey was carried out seven years later to evaluate this hypothesis. Methods: The cross-sectional data from two ISAAC questionnaire based surveys conducted in 1994 (n = 6238) and in 2001 (n = 9363) on two groups of schoolchildren aged 6–7 and 12–15 years were compared. The instruments used were identical and the procedures standardised in both surveys. Results: Comparing data from both studies, the change in the prevalence of current wheeze occurred in opposing directions in both age groups—decreasing in the 6–7 year age group (16.6% to 10.2%) but increasing to a small extent in the 12–15 year age group (9.9% to 11.9%). The 12 month prevalence of rhinitis did not change; there was an increase in the current eczema symptoms in both age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of current wheeze, a surrogate measure of asthma prevalence, has decreased significantly in the 6–7 year age group. Eczema was the only allergic disease that showed a modest increase in prevalence in both age groups.