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. 1991 Jun;46(6):405–409. doi: 10.1136/thx.46.6.405

Prevalence of asthma among 12 year old children in New Zealand and South Wales: a comparative survey.

D M Barry 1, M L Burr 1, E S Limb 1
PMCID: PMC463185  PMID: 1858077

Abstract

A survey of 12 year old schoolchildren was carried out in New Zealand and South Wales, the same questionnaire and exercise provocation test being used. The prevalence of a history of asthma at any time was higher in New Zealand (147/873, 17%) than in South Wales (116/965, 12%). The New Zealand children were also more likely than the Welsh children to have a history of "wheeze ever" (27% versus 22%), and wheeze brought on by running (15% versus 10.5%). The sex ratio of asthmatic and wheezy children was very similar in the two countries. A history of hospital admission for chest trouble was twice as common in New Zealand as in South Wales. An exercise test produced a fall in peak expiratory flow rate of 15% or more in more New Zealand children (12.2%) than Welsh children (7.7%). These results suggest that the prevalence of childhood asthma is higher in New Zealand than in South Wales.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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