Prevalence and severity of asthma in adolescents in France. Cross-sectional and retrospective analyses of a large population-based sample

SETTING: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease among adoles cents; however, very little is known about asthma in this age group. OBJECTIVE: To explore asthma in adolescence using cross-sectional and retro spective representative data. DESIGN: A population-based sample of adolescents was selected from 578 clas ses in 186 schools of eight metropolitan educational districts in France an d invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire (National Adolescen t Health Survey [NAHS]). RESULTS: Of 14278 adolescents selected, 12466 (87%) participated in the sur vey. Prevalence of 'ever asthma' was higher among boys, among those in the south and west, among those from French overseas departments, in active smo kers, and in those with other allergies, including food allergy It was lowe r in adolescents whose mother was a housewife. Puberty was not associated w ith 'ever asthma'; however, asthmatic boys without signs of puberty usually had more attacks than those with. Severe asthma was associated with early onset and female sex. Asthma medications and consultations did not depend o n socio-economic status. Asthmatic adolescents were found to need more heal th care in terms of medication use, consultations and hospitalisations othe r than for asthma than other adolescents; this relationship was strongest a mong severe asthmatics.