ASTHMA STATISTICS IN THE NETHERLANDS 1980-94

Concern about the rising asthma mortality and morbidity in several cou ntries in the 1980s, and the consequent development of international g uidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma, gave reason to evalu ate national mortality and hospital admission data from the Netherland s for asthma [International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 493] over the period 1980-94, as well as for chronic obstructive pulmonary dise ase (COPD) (ICD 490-2, 496) and acute bronchi(oli)tis (ICD 466), accor ding to age (0-4, 5-34, 35-64 and greater than or equal to 65 years). Rates per million population per year were calculated and time trend a nalyses were performed. Hospital admissions for asthma showed a decrea se in all age groups except in age group 0-4 years. In this age group, an increase was found which continued in the 1990s. Hospital admissio ns also increased for COPD and acute bronchi(oli)tis in the age group 0-4 years. These increases, however, had no impact In on the respirato ry mortality, which remained stable and even fell for acute bronchi(ol i)tis. Asthma mortality showed a large decline in the 1990s in age gro up greater than or equal to 65 years in both sexes, and also fell, to a lesser extent, in age group 35-64 years. In both age groups, rising COPD trends were found in hospital admissions and mortality, except in males aged 35-64 years, in whom trends fell in the last decade. In ag e group 5-34 years, asthma mortality declined over the whole study per iod, whilst the other respiratory trends were stable. It is concluded that asthma statistics in the Netherlands indicate favourable developm ent, except for the age group 0-4 years. In this age group, morbidity from asthma and from other reactive airway disorders is still of great concern.