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© 1994 Oxford University Press

other

Prevalence of Childhood Asthma across Canada

ROBERT E DALES, MARK RAIZENNE, SAWSAN EL-SAADANY, JEFF BROOK and RICHARD BURNETT

The Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada

Reprint requests to: Dr Robert Dales, Toxic Air Pollution Health Effects Section, Environmental and Occupational Toxicology Division, Health and Welfare Canada, Room 334, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2.

BackgroundA large cross-sectional study provided an opportunity to estimate the prevalence of childhood asthma in several regions across Canada.

MethodsIn 1988, approximately 18 000 questionnaires were distributed to the families of 5–8 year old children in 30 communities from the following six regions across Canada: the interior of British Columbia, southeastern Saskatchewan, southwestern Ontario, the central region of Ontario, southern Quebec, and the Maritimes (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). These communities were free of point-source air pollutants and selected to represent a range of ambient sulphate concentrations. In all 14 948 questionnaires were returned representing an 83% response rate.

ResultsCurrentty present, physician-diagnosed asthma was reported for 4.7% of children by their parents. Persistent wheezing was reported for 13% and persistent cough for 5.9%. Asthma was most common in the two Maritime provinces (7.4%). and least common in British Columbia (3.3%) and Quebec (3.4%). Similar regional dfferences were seen for persistent cough, persistent wheeze, and also hospital separation rates for asthma which were approximately 800 per 100 000 for the Maritimes and 396 per 100 000 for British Columbia. Differences persisted despite adjustments for several host and environmental (indoor and outdoor) characteristics.

ConclusionsThe east coast of Canada may be an endemic area of asthma in Canada. If confirmed by objective measures of asthma, a detailed aetiologic investigation could enhance understanding of this phenomenon and the major environmental determinants of asthma morbidity in general.

Received 1 December 1993


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