Crane J, Lewis S, Slater T, Crossland L, Robson B, D'Souza W, Pearce N, Town G I, Garrett J, Armstrong R
Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine.
N Z Med J. 1994 Oct 26;107(988):417-21.
To examine the prevalence of asthma symptoms in a random population sample of New Zealand adults aged 20-44 years drawn from the general and Maori electoral rolls as phase I of an international study of asthma prevalence.
Subjects aged 20-44 years in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Christchurch, were selected randomly from the electoral rolls and sent a one page screening questionnaire, asking about respiratory symptoms, asthma attacks and asthma treatment. They were also asked to record their ethnic affiliation. Nonresponders were subsequently sent two written reminders followed by a telephone questionnaire where possible.
A response rate of 84% was achieved. The study found a high prevalence of asthma symptoms, with 26% reporting wheezing in the last year, 8% experiencing an attack of asthma in the last year and 9% currently using asthma medication. Females were more likely to have had wheezing in the last year (26.6%) and be on treatment for asthma (9.8%) compared with males (24.7% and 7.5% respectively). Small regional differences were found with more reported symptoms and asthma treatment in Wellington and Christchurch, compared with Auckland and Hawkes Bay. Maori were more frequently symptomatic (35.2%) than nonPolynesian (24.8%) but were no more likely to report an attack of asthma (Maori 9.0%, nonPolynesian 7.7%) or be currently receiving asthma treatment (Maori 10.0%, nonPolynesian 8.6%). Asthma symptoms tended to decline with age in non Maori but increased with age in Maori. Adjustment of prevalence rates by two independent methods suggests that nonresponse bias has not significantly inflated these rates.
The symptoms of asthma and their treatment are common in young New Zealanders, affecting one in three Maori and one in four nonMaori. One in ten of this adult population currently receive asthma treatment.
作为一项哮喘患病率国际研究的第一阶段，对从普通选民名册和毛利人选民名册中抽取的20至44岁新西兰成年人随机样本进行哮喘症状患病率调查。
从奥克兰、霍克斯湾、惠灵顿和克赖斯特彻奇年龄在20至44岁的人群中，随机从选民名册中选取，并发放一份单页筛查问卷，询问呼吸症状、哮喘发作和哮喘治疗情况。还要求他们记录自己的种族归属。对未回复者随后发送两份书面提醒，如有可能再进行电话问卷调查。
回复率达到84%。该研究发现哮喘症状患病率较高，26%的人报告去年有喘息，8%的人去年经历过哮喘发作，9%的人目前正在使用哮喘药物。与男性（分别为24.7%和7.5%）相比，女性去年更有可能出现喘息（26.6%）并接受哮喘治疗（9.8%）。发现存在小的地区差异，与奥克兰和霍克斯湾相比，惠灵顿和克赖斯特彻奇报告的症状和哮喘治疗情况更多。毛利人出现症状的频率（35.2%）高于非波利尼西亚人（24.8%），但报告哮喘发作的可能性（毛利人9.0%，非波利尼西亚人7.7%）或目前接受哮喘治疗的可能性（毛利人10.0%，非波利尼西亚人8.6%）并无差异。非毛利人的哮喘症状倾向于随年龄下降，而毛利人的哮喘症状则随年龄增加。通过两种独立方法调整患病率表明，无应答偏差并未显著夸大这些患病率。
哮喘症状及其治疗在新西兰年轻人中很常见，影响到三分之一的毛利人和四分之一的非毛利人。该成年人群中有十分之一目前正在接受哮喘治疗。
