EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TRENDS IN THE HOSPITALIZATION OF ACUTE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN THE URBAN AREA OF LUBECK (GERMANY)

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the trend of hospitaliz ation rates of children with acute asthma in the city area of Lubeck i n the years 1976 to 1995. Method: In a retrospective study we identifi ed all children less than or equal to 17 years old admitted at the Chi ldren's University Hospital of Lubeck due to acute asthma between Janu ary of 1976 and December 1995. Asthma hospitalization rates were calcu lated based on age dependant population data of the city of Lubeck. Th e age of the children admitted to the hospital were expressed as mean values per year with 95% confidence interval. Statistical evaluation w as performed by linear regression analysis. Results: Overall 826 child ren were hospitalized with acute asthma, 496 boys and 330 girls. Hospi talizations peaked in August through November. The average age of pati ents was 9.4 years in 1976 and 5.6 years in 1995. Over the study perio d from 1976 to 1995 there was a significant decline of the age of chil dren admitted to hospital with acute asthma. Of the hospitalized patie nts 574 (69%) lived in the city of Lubeck and 252 (31%) in the rural c atchment area of the children's hospital with no change of the proport ion over the study period. Asthma hospitalization rate for children in the city area of Lubeck was 29/100000 population in 1976 and 138/1000 00 population in 1995. In the age group less than or equal to 5 years the hospitalization rate was 15/100000 in 1976 and 224/100000 in 1995. Analyzing the study period 1976 through 1995 a statistically signific ant increase in hospitalization rates was registered, which was more p ronounced in the age group < 5 years. Conclusion: Hospital admission r ates for childhood asthma, found in the city of Lubeck confirm the inc rease of hospitalization rates observed in several other countries of the western world. Prospective studies are needed to further clarify t he reasons for this trend.