PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA AND WHEEZE IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND

To establish the prevalence of asthma and wheeze in 12 year old childr en in a region with low background pollution levels, a population of c hildren resident in the Highland Region of Scotland was studied by que stionnaire supported by objective data. A respiratory questionnaire wa s distributed to the parents of 1919 children aged from 12-13 years an d attending secondary schools in the educational divisions of Lochaber , Ross and Cromarty, and Inverness including Skye in Highland Region t o ascertain history of wheeze and parental awareness of a diagnosis of asthma. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements were carried out befo re and after a standardised exercise test. Ozone levels were noted. Qu estionnaires were completed by 1825 parents (95% of those invited) and 1702 (93%) of those returning questionnaires took part in the exercis e test. The overall prevalence of reported asthma was 14% and wheeze 2 5%. Defined as a fall in PEF of more than 15% with exercise, the overa ll prevalence of exercise induced bronchospasm was 9%. In Skye the pre valence of reported asthma was 17%, wheeze 28%, and exercise induced b ronchospasm 30%. There were no significant differences between areas f or reported asthma or wheeze. There was, however, a highly significant difference between areas for exercise induced bronchospasm, most of w hich was accounted for by the very high incidence in Skye, which is on e of the most rural of the areas studied. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that asthma is commoner in urban than rura l areas, whether we M G Adam compare the Highlands with the rest of th e UK or areas within the Highlands, or whether we examine reported sym ptoms or exercise induced bronchospasm. The results do not support an association between atmospheric pollution and the prevalence of asthma .