Evans R, Mullally D I, Wilson R W, Gergen P J, Rosenberg H M, Grauman J S, Chevarley F M, Feinleib M
Chest. 1987 Jun;91(6 Suppl):65S-74S.
National population-based data systems of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) were used to study the epidemiology of asthma in the United States over the last 20 years. Asthma is more prevalent among males, those living below the poverty level, persons living in the South and West, and blacks; however, this difference did not attain statistical significance. Death rates from asthma among the older age groups probably increased between 1968 and 1982, with a substantial increase since 1979. For children, the evidence is less clear, but the death rate has increased for children over five years of age during the period from 1979 to 1982. Between 1964 and 1980, asthma has become more prevalent in children under 17 years of age, but this does not reflect an increase in the severity of asthma over this same time period. Hospitalization rates for asthma between 1965 and 1983 increased by 50 percent in adults and by over 200 percent in children. Rates for black patients are 50 percent higher in adults and 150 percent greater in children. It is concluded that there has been a marked increase in hospitalization rates for asthma, a moderate increase in death rates from asthma and a smaller increase in overall prevalence of the disease in the United States.
美国国家卫生统计中心（NCHS）基于全国人口的数据系统被用于研究过去20年美国哮喘的流行病学情况。哮喘在男性、生活在贫困线以下的人群、居住在南部和西部的人群以及黑人中更为普遍；然而，这种差异未达到统计学显著性。1968年至1982年间，老年人群中哮喘死亡率可能有所上升，自1979年以来大幅上升。对于儿童，证据不太明确，但在1979年至1982年期间，五岁以上儿童的死亡率有所上升。1964年至1980年间，17岁以下儿童哮喘患病率有所上升，但这并不反映同一时期哮喘严重程度的增加。1965年至1983年间，成人哮喘住院率增加了50%，儿童增加了200%以上。黑人患者的住院率在成人中高出50%，在儿童中高出150%。结论是，美国哮喘住院率显著上升，哮喘死亡率适度上升，该疾病总体患病率上升幅度较小。
