TIME TRENDS AND SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN TAIWAN FROM 1990 TO 1998
Ou LS, Kao CC, Huang JL
Division of Allergy,
Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children’s
Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Objective: The aim of
the study was to determine the trends and seasonal variations in hospital
admissions for childhood asthma since 1990.
Methods: Children
admitted with the diagnosis of asthma, or asthmatic bronchitis (ICD-9 code
493) between 2 and 14 years of age were included from hospital registries
between 1990 to 1998. Age-specific and sex-specific hospital admission,
readmission and seasonal admission rates for asthma were calculated for
each calendar year.
Results: The asthma
admission rates showed a significant upward trend throughout the period
studied, particularly among the 2-4 years of age group (relative risk=2.08;
p=0.0001). Seasonal admission rates revealed a statistically significant
increase during the October-December period, peaking in November or
December of each calendar year (relative risk=1.84; p=0.0001). There was a
male predominance in both age categories during the 9-year period.
Comparisons of readmissions for asthma (at least three admissions)
disclosed girls were far more likely to be readmitted than boys among the
5-14 years of age group (p=0.01).
Conclusions: Our results
indicate:
(1) an increased prevalence and severity of childhood asthma in Taiwan; (2)
boys and younger children with asthma had increased risks of admission for
asthma; (3) girls among the older children with asthma tend to present with
greater severity than boys.