RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of asthma symptoms among Croatian school children is still increasing
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p4132
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Srdan Banac
A1 Koraljka Manestar
A1 Vojko Rozmanic
A1 Zrinka Korotaj Rozmanic
A1 Ivana Vidovic
A1 Marta Šerer
A1 Nastasja Švraka
A1 Tamara Petric
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4132.abstract
AB Bacground: There were disturbing epidemiological data confirming a worldwide increase, including Croatia, in the prevalence of childhood asthma over the last few decades. Recent epidemiological studies shows that this trend seems to be stopped in many countries.Aim: To estimate the trend of asthma symptoms prevalence among school children in north-west part of Croatia.Methods: Results of two studies conducted eight years apart, during school years 2001/02 vs. 2009/10, on the same area using the same written and video asthma questionnaires developed by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood were compared respectively. The target population comprised two age groups: 6-7years (n=1634 vs. n=1052) and 13-14 years (n=2194 vs. n=1181).Results: Prevalence of asthma symptoms in the older age group according to written questionnaire (wheezing in last 12 months: 8.4 vs 14.0, p<0.001; wheezing ever: 19.9 vs. 26.1, p<0.001; asthma ever: 5.2 vs. 6.9, p=0.02) showed a rising trend as well as according to video questionnaire (wheezing in last 12 months: 4.6 vs. 6.4, p=0.01; severe wheezing in last 12 months; 2.1 vs. 7.1, p<0.001). There was no significant (NS) change in the prevalence of the same symptoms in the younger age group (wheezing in last 12 months: 9.7 vs. 9.4, p=NS; wheezing ever: 26.2 vs. 26.3, p=NS; asthma ever: 3.9 vs. 5.0, p=NS).Conclusion: Prevalence of asthma symptoms among older school children in north-west part of Croatia still shows a rising trend. Results obtained in the younger age group of children may suggest that this trend could be stopped in the future.