Prevalence of asthma in Melbourne schoolchildren: Changes over 26 years

Abstract

Objectives - To determine the prevalence of asthma in the past 12 months in Melbourne schoolchildren aged 7, 12, and 15 years and to compare the prevalence of a history of asthma with that of 26 years ago. Design - A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was distributed to children for completion by parents and return to the school. Subjects were selected by a stratified cluster design. Setting - Government and non-government schools in the greater Melbourne area, Australia. Subjects - 10981 children. Parents completed questionnaires for 3324 children aged 7, 2899 aged 12, and 2968 aged 15. The overall response rate was 90%. Main outcome measures - History of wheeze or asthma in the past 12 ..