K. Priftis et al., TIME TRENDS AND SEASONAL-VARIATION IN-HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN THE ATHENS REGION OF GREECE - 1978-88, Thorax, 48(11), 1993, pp. 1168-1169
Background-The aim of the study was to determine the trend and seasona
l variation in hospital admissions for childhood asthma in the Athens
region of Greece. Methods-Data were obtained from hospital registries
of the three main children's hospitals in Athens between 1978 and 1988
. Children admitted with the diagnosis of asthma, asthmatic bronchitis
, or wheezy bronchitis were included. The data were expressed as admis
sion rates per 100 000 of the same aged population. Results-There were
9795 admissions for asthma over the 11 years and the admission rate r
ose by 294%. Admissions among those aged 0-4 and 5-14 rose by 272% and
379% respectively. Monthly admissions showed a pronounced seasonal va
riation, rising during the cold damp period in the 0-4 age group, but
peaking around May in the 5-14 age group. Conclusions-These findings s
uggest that hospital admissions due to asthma in the Athens region hav
e increased considerably since 1978, and that clear cut seasonal varia
tions exist which are specific to age.