RESUMEN
Two epidemiological surveys of New Zealand adolescents are reported. The prevalence of asthma was 7.5 percent in Rotorua and 7.9 percent in Wairoa. Additional questions asked in Wairoa identified 18.2 percent of subjects who had experienced wheeze but had not been labelled "asthma". The association of active asthma with nasal obstruction was confirmed. Wheeze which had not been labelled asthma was associated with the combination of subject's own and maternal cigarette smoking. The use of asthma medication was associated with easier geographic and socio-economic access to medical care, as well as with asthma activity.
Asunto(s)
Asma/epidemiología , Ruidos Respiratorios/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Obstrucción de las Vías Aéreas/etiología , Asma/complicaciones , Asma/fisiopatología , Niño , Preescolar , Crecimiento , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nueva Zelanda , Fumar , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
The outline organisation of a health survey of a secondary school is presented. The aims of the survey were primarilary to provide population data on rheumatic fever in a high incidence area, and to further knowledge of the distribution of risk factors for coronary heart disease in New Zealand adolescents. Ninety-six and a half percent coverage of the target group was achieved; non-responders were characterised from hospital and school records as being predominantly rural with greater early childhood hospital experience than respondents. The sample was considered to be representative of the adolescent population of the area.