PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Michael J. Abramson AU - Michael Valente AU - Minh Thi Hong Le AU - Su-Wei Khung AU - Geza Benke AU - Shyamali Dharmage AU - Bruce Thompson TI - The prevalence of asthma symptoms in middle aged Australian adults DP - 2012 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P3940 VI - 40 IP - Suppl 56 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3940.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3940.full SO - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40 AB - Introduction: ISAAC and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) have shown that the prevalence of asthma in children and young adults is higher in Australia than many other Western countries.Aim: To describe changes in respiratory symptom prevalence in adults as they age.Methods: We followed up a cohort of young adults from South Eastern Melbourne initially recruited for ECRHS in 1992. A validated postal questionnaire was sent to 726 surviving participants. After 1 month, non-respondents were sent a second survey. The survey is still on going.Results: Of the first 166 questionnaires received to date, 73 (44%) were from males and the mean (SD) age was 55 (5.7) years. The prevalences (95%CI) of respiratory symptoms and diseases are:View this table:Conclusions: The prevalences of respiratory symptoms and asthma are broadly consistent with previous surveys of this age group. Incidence will be estimated when non-respondents are traced and the response rate improves.Funding: NHMRC of Australia.