INCREASED ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG REGISTERED INDIAN CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN SASKATCHEWAN, 1970-1989

We investigated asthma morbidity in children and adults among Register ed Indians in Saskatchewan using hospitalization data for 1970-1989. I n Registered Indians, significant increases were observed in the asthm a hospitalization rates from 1979 to 1989 in boys and girls under 4 ye ars, boys aged 5-14 years, and female adults aged 15-34 years respecti vely. In children under 4 years, the asthma hospitalization rates incr eased from 12.7 per 1000 in 1979 to 21.7 per 1000 in 1989. Asthma hosp italizations were higher among Indian boys than girls in the age group 0-4 years but this was reversed in the age groups 15-34 and 35-64 yea rs. When compared with other Saskatchewan populations, the Indian popu lation in age groups 0-4 and 35-64 years had significantly increased r isk for hospitalization for asthma. Even though asthma was reported to be rare among Indians before 1975, we observed increases in asthma mo rbidity in recent years among Indian children and young adults.