Cuijpers C E, Wesseling G J, Swaen G M, Sturmans F, Wouters E F
Department of Epidemiology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
J Asthma. 1994;31(4):301-12. doi: 10.3109/02770909409089477.
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of asthma-related symptoms in a group of primary school children, by means of a questionnaire completed by their parents, and their lung function using spirometry and the forced oscillation technique (FOT). Also investigated were diagnostic labeling and medical prescription. We approached 535 children, from two primary schools in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Completed questionnaires were received from 482 children (90%). Valid lung function values were obtained in 470 of these children (98%). The lifetime prevalence of wheeze and attacks of shortness of breath with wheeze was 29% and 19%, respectively. The period prevalence of wheeze was 15%, 13% reported chronic cough, and 10% attacks of shortness of breath with wheeze. The doctor-diagnosed asthma and bronchitis prevalence was 6% and 19%, respectively. Of the children diagnosed as having asthma, 69% used antiasthma medication; none of the children diagnosed as having bronchitis used antiasthma medication. A symptom-based asthma prevalence of 11% was calculated. Statistically significant differences in spirometric and FOT indices were found between the children with and without complaints. In conclusion, among the 482 investigated children a relatively high prevalence of unrecognized or misclassified, and therefore undertreated, asthma-related symptoms was found. These observations were confirmed by the lung function data, in that we found significant differences in spirometric and FOT indices between children with and without complaints.
本研究的目的是通过家长填写的问卷以及使用肺活量测定法和强迫振荡技术（FOT）来测定一组小学生中哮喘相关症状的患病率。同时还调查了诊断标签和药物处方情况。我们联系了荷兰马斯特里赫特两所小学的535名儿童。收到了482名儿童（90%）填写完整的问卷。其中470名儿童（98%）获得了有效的肺功能值。喘息和伴有喘息的呼吸急促发作的终生患病率分别为29%和19%。喘息的期间患病率为15%，13%报告有慢性咳嗽，10%有伴有喘息的呼吸急促发作。医生诊断的哮喘和支气管炎患病率分别为6%和19%。在被诊断为哮喘的儿童中，69%使用了抗哮喘药物；被诊断为支气管炎的儿童中无人使用抗哮喘药物。计算出基于症状的哮喘患病率为11%。有症状和无症状儿童之间在肺活量测定和FOT指标上存在统计学显著差异。总之，在482名被调查儿童中，发现未被识别或分类错误、因此治疗不足的哮喘相关症状患病率相对较高。肺功能数据证实了这些观察结果，因为我们发现有症状和无症状儿童之间在肺活量测定和FOT指标上存在显著差异。
