PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS IN VIDEO AND WRITTEN QUESTIONNAIRES AMONG CHILDREN IN 4 REGIONS OF FINLAND

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are regional diff erences in the prevalence of childhood asthma in Finland. A secondary objective was to assess the concordance between a written and a video questionnaire on asthma symptoms, In 1994-1995, the self-reported prev alence of asthma symptoms in four regions of Finland was studied among 11,607 schoolchildren aged 13-14 yrs, as part of the International St udy of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The ISAAC written an d video (AVQ 3,0) questionnaires were administered in the school settt ing. The prevalences of any wheezing during the previous 12 months in the ISAAC video questionnaire were 10% in East Finland (Kuopio County, n=2,821), 12% in South Finland (Helsinki area, n=2,771), 12% in South west Finland (Turku and Pori County, n=2,983), and 11% in North Finlan d (Lapland, n=3,032). The prevalences in the ISAAC written questionnai re were 13, 20, 15, and 16%, respectively, The surveys were performed during winter, except in Helsinki where the survey was carried out mai nly during the spring pollen season. During autumn, the prevalence in the written questionnaire in Helsinki was 16%. In multivariate analysi s, boys had a lower prevalence than girls, and smokers a threefold hig her prevalence than nonsmokers. In conclusion, the prevalence of child hood asthma is lower in Finland than in other European countries, and may be even lower in the eastern part of the country. In contrast to t he results from some other European countries, prevalences were lower in the video than in the written questionnaire, which suggests that tr anslating the word ''wheezing'' into other languages, including Finnis h, may produce results that cannot be compared. The strong association of smoking with wheeze both in the video and written questionnaires s hould be considered in further analysis of the ISAAC study.