You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Original article
Continued increase in the prevalence of asthma and atopy
  1. S H Downsa,
  2. G B Marksa,
  3. R Sporika,
  4. E G Belosouvaa,
  5. N G Carb,
  6. J K Peatc
  1. aInstitute of Respiratory Medicine, University of Sydney, PO Box M77, Missenden Road Post Office, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia, bSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia, cNew Children's Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
  1. Ms Downsshd{at}mail.med.usyd.edu.au

Abstract

AIMS To describe the change in the prevalence of wheeze, diagnosed asthma, and atopy in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, between 1992 and 1997, and to compare this to the increase in prevalence reported between 1982 and 1992.

METHODS A cross sectional study of the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and atopy in schoolchildren aged 8–11 years (n = 1016, response rate 71%) in 1997 compared with studies of similar design in 1992 (response rate 83%, n = 850) and 1982 (response rate 88%, n = 769). Main outcome measures were respiratory symptoms measured by parent completed questionnaire and atopy measured by skin prick tests.

RESULTS Between 1992 and 1997, the prevalence of wheeze increased by 5.1% (95% CI 1.2 to 9.0), asthma diagnosis by 8.1% (95% CI 3.8 to 12.4), and atopy by 6.7% (95% CI 2.2 to 11.2). Similar increases in prevalence had been found between 1982 and 1992.

CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of wheeze, asthma diagnosis, and atopy in Wagga Wagga has continued to increase.

  • asthma
  • atopy
  • prevalence

https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.84.1.20

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text