THE DECLINE IN ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATIONS IN PERSONS AGED 0-34 YEARS IN NEW-ZEALAND

Aims: Hospitalisation rates for asthma for the 0-14, year and five-34 year age ranges have been examined from 1969 to 1993 to determine whet her the rise observed between the 1960s and 1980s has continued into t he 1990s. Results: In the 0-14 age range, hospitalisations peaked in 1 986 then fell by 18.7% by 1993. There was a corresponding rise in hosp italisation rates for acute bronchitis/ bronchiolitis and it is possib le that the fall in asthma hospitalisations in this age range is at le ast partly explained by diagnostic transfer. On the other hand, the tr ends in the five-34 age range appear unlikely to be explained by diagn ostic transfer. The rate peaked in 1986 and fell by 34.7% by 1993, wit h most of the decline occurring after 1989. This in part parallels the trends in mortality in this age range, which saw a sudden fall in the death rate in 1989. Conclusions: New Zealand is not only benefiting f rom a marked fall in asthma deaths, but is also benefiting from a mark ed decline in asthma hospitalisations in young adults, and probably al so in children.