TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA AND DYSPNEA IN 1ST YEAR UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS, 1972-89

The prevalence of asthma and dyspnoeic symptoms were studied in underg raduates from Ireland, north and south, entering Queen's University Be lfast in the years 1972, 1978, 1983, 1986 and 1989. The records of stu dents' compulsory entry medical examination, including responses to qu estions on dyspnoeic symptoms in a health screening questionnaire, wer e reviewed. Between 1972 and 1989, the 12-month period prevalence of a sthma increased from 1.3% to 2.84% (p<0.001). This increase was not ac counted for by the changes in the sex, or socioeconomic structure of t he student body. In non-asthmatics the prevalence of dyspnoea rose fro m 5.49% to 8.30% (p<0.01). In students with diagnosed asthma, the prop ortion with dyspnoeic symptoms did not significantly increase (p=0.167 ). There was a greater than two-fold increase in the prevalence of dia gnosed asthma in this population between 1972 and 1989. The prevalence of asthma was higher in rural than in urban students. There was also an increased reporting of dyspnoea in non-asthmatics, the significance of which is unclear.