THE PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AMONG YOUNG-ADULTS - IS IT INCREASING IN AUSTRALIA

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-re ported asthma and respiratory symptoms among young adults and whether there had been any change since a previous survey. A cross-sectional p ostal community survey was conducted in three parliamentary electorate s in the inner South East region of Melbourne, Australia. A total of 4 500 individuals aged between 20 and 44 years were randomly selected fr om the electoral roll. After three mailings and telephone follow-up, a n adjusted response rate of 79% was achieved. No intervention was perf ormed. Self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms were recorded fro m the European Community Respiratory Health Survey screening questionn aire. Respondents were most likely to report nasal allergies (41%), no cturnal cough (28.6%), and wheeze in the last 12 months (28.1%). Noctu rnal cough was more common in females than males. The prevalence of wh eeze, nocturnal chest tightness, and use of asthma medications decreas ed with age. An attack of asthma in the last 12 months was reported by 9.7% of young adults, and this fell to 8.2% after correction for nonr esponse bias. The prevalence of current asthma had not increased signi ficantly since a previous postal survey in 1990. However the prevalenc e of nocturnal chest tightness, nocturnal cough, and use oi asthma med ications had increased significantly over a 2-year period. Further res earch is required to investigate why asthma is so prevalent in Austral ia and why some features are increasing in prevalence.