COHORT STUDY ON RESPIRATORY-DISEASE AND L UNG-FUNCTION IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN SOUTHWEST GERMANY .1. STUDY DESIGN, PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OFRESPIRATORY-DISEASES

A prospective cohort study on schoolchildren was conducted during the years 1977, 1979 and 1985 in Mannheim and the Black Forest county near Freiburg to investigate the regional differences in respiratory sympt oms. Each survey included a lung function test and questions on respir atory symptoms. The response rates were high (84% averaged over the ye ars and areas). A total of 8514 children participated in the study, 20 66 children took part in two and 1486 in all three surveys, Prevalence and incidence rates of 11 respiratory and allergic diseases are repor ted in part 1 of the publication. In further parts, prevalence will be analysed using regression techniques and a comparison in the developm ent of lung function between the difference regions will follow. In ge neral, prevalences of the respiratory and allergic diseases were highe r for boys than girls at age 8-10. In contrast, 16 year old girls were equally affected and sometimes showed higher prevalences than boys ex cept for asthma. 1977 and 1979 higher prevalences of respiratory sympt oms were found in Mannheim compared to Freiburg. Allergic symptoms occ ured more frequently in the area around Freiburg. No difference in pre valence and incidence could be demonstrated for the year 1985 between the two regions.