REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF ASTHMA-RELATED HOSPITAL TREATMENT PERIODS INFINLAND IN 1972-86

We examined the use of asthma-related hospital services in geographica lly different areas of Finland in 1972-86, using data obtained from ho spital discharge registers. A total of 254402 cases diagnosed as asthm a was identified (diagnosis 493, International Classification of Disea ses, 8th Revision), information on the patient's place of residence en abling comparison of the southern, western, eastern, and northern part s of the country. Annual hospitalizations and the occurrence of new ca ses were calculated relative to the population, the former being found to increase throughout the country during the period studied, the mos t marked rise being 8.8% in Northern Finland (95 % confidence interval 6.4-11.3 %), and the smallest, 1.1 %, in Western Finland (- 0.2 to 2.5). A corresponding trend was also noted in the annual occurrence of new cases, which increased most in Northern Finland, i.e. by 4.8% (3. 0-6.6), and decreased in Western Finland by 2.9% (- 3.6 to - 2. 1). Th e change in asthma and the organization of treatment and factors relat ed to the cold environment may, in combination, contribute to difficul ties in the treatment of asthma in Northern Finland.