Descriptive epidemiology of asthma in Trinidad, West Indies

This cross-sectional study documents the demographic features of asthmatics seeking acute asthma care at four institutions on the island of Trinidad f rom January 1 to December 31, 1997. More than 15,000 (15,035) different pat ients made 27,353 visits during the study period. Pediatric and adolescent male patients outnumbered females, but th is was reversed in patients aged 20-69 years. Frequency of visits per patient ranged from 1 to 242. Signific ant variation in monthly admissions was observed; admission rates were high est in the last quarter of the year but were lowest in July and August. The overall crude prevalence rate was estimated at 1.71 per 100 (range 1.16-2. 34).