Table 2 Prevalence (%) of asthma and other atopic conditions in three surveys.
| Asthma criterion or symptom | 1973 (n = 817) | 1988 (n = 965) | 2003 (n = 1148) | Difference 2003–1988 (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma ever | 5.5 | 12.0 | 27.3 | 15.2 (11.9 to 18.5) |
| Asthma in last 12 months | 4.2 | 9.1 | 15.4 | 6.3 (3.5 to 9.1) |
| Wheeze ever | 17.0 | 22.3 | 28.0 | 5.7 (2.0 to 9.3) |
| Wheeze in last 12 months | 9.8 | 15.2 | 19.7 | 4.5 (1.2 to 7.7) |
| Breathless wheeze ever | 9.2 | 14.0 | 19.9 | 6.0 (2.7 to 9.1) |
| Wheeze without cold ever | 6.6 | 13.8 | 17.8 | 4.0 (0.9 to 7.1) |
| Inhaler in last 12 months | – | 10.1 | 19.1 | 9.0 (6.0 to 12.0) |
| PEFR fell >15% after exercise* | 6.7 | 7.7 | 4.7 | −3.0 (−5.2 to −0.9) |
| PEFR fell >25% after exercise* | 2.0 | 4.1 | 2.4 | −1.7 (−3.3 to −0.2) |
| Hay fever/allergic rhinitis ever | – | 16.0 | 19.4 | 3.5 (0.2 to 6.7) |
| Eczema ever | 4.8 | 15.9 | 23.1 | 7.2 (3.8 to 10.6) |
PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate.
*n = 812, 960 and 1019 in 1973, 1988 and 2003, respectively.