INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF ASTHMA PREVALENCE IN CHILDREN - AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND, CHILE

The aim of the study was to determine if the prevalence of symptoms su ggestive of asthma in school-age children was similar in three countri es with differing language and culture. To answer this question, we us ed the same instrument, translated appropriately, for schoolchildren i n Melbourne, Australia, St. Gallen, Switzerland, and La Serena, Chile. A three page respiratory symptoms questionnaire was issued to schools for distribution to children for completion by parents and return to the school. Three age groups were selected for study, based on the ave rage age of the school grade. Grades were used with average ages of 7, 12, and 15 years, respectively. A total of 26,628 questionnaires were issued to parents (Australia, 10,981; Switzerland, 4,464; Chile, 11,1 83). The response rates for each country were 89% for Australia, 97.5% for Switzerland, and 71% for Chile. The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months for 7 year olds was 23.1% in Melbourne, 7.4% in St. Ga llen, and 26.5% in La Serena; for 12 year olds it was 20.9% in Melbour ne, 6.0% in St. Gallen, and 21.1% in La Serena; for 15 year olds it wa s 18.6% in Melbourne, 4.5% in St. Gallen, and 17.7% in La Serene. A hi story of wheezing was more common in boys than girls at age 7 in Melbo urne and St. Gallen, but not La Serena. This difference was less at ag e 12 and was not seen at age 15. Among those who had reported wheezing in the last 12 months, bronchodilator use was reported by 83% (1,611/ 1,948) from Melbourne, 46% (118/259) from St. Gallen, and 47% (538/1,1 40) from La Serena. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms reported fr om Switzerland was much lower than that for Australia or Chile. Now th at a difference in the prevalence of asthma symptoms has been demonstr ated, it may be desirable to compare environmental factors between cou ntries with different prevalence rates. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.