TIME TRENDS AND SEASONAL-VARIATION IN-HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN THE ATHENS REGION OF GREECE - 1978-88

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.