The prevalence of asthma and allergies in Singapore; data from two ISAAC surveys seven years apart. Issue 5 (21st April 2004)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, X S; Tan, T N; Shek, L P C; Chng, S Y; Hia, C P P; Ong, N B H; Ma, S; Lee, B W; Goh, D Y T
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 89:Issue 5(2004)
• Page Start: 423
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2004-04-21
• Subjects: asthma -- atopy -- epidemiology -- prevalence -- trends; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2003.031112
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Aims: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of asthma has been increasing in the industrialised world. Despite the suggestion of a similar increase in Singapore, the 12 month prevalence of wheeze among schoolchildren in 1994 was 2.5-fold less than that reported in western populations. It was hypothesised that with increasing affluence in Singapore, the asthma prevalence would further increase and approach Western figures. A second ISAAC survey was carried out seven years later to evaluate this hypothesis. Methods: The cross-sectional data from two ISAAC questionnaire based surveys conducted in 1994 (n = 6238) and in 2001 (n = 9363) on two groups of schoolchildren aged 6–7 and 12–15 years were compared. The instruments used were identical and the procedures standardised in both surveys. Results: Comparing data from both studies, the change in the prevalence of current wheeze occurred in opposing directions in both age groups—decreasing in the 6–7 year age group (16.6% to 10.2%) but increasing to a small extent in the 12–15 year age group (9.9% to 11.9%). The 12 month prevalence of rhinitis did not change; there was an increase in the current eczema symptoms in both age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of current wheeze, a surrogate measure of asthma prevalence, has decreased significantly in the 6–7 year age group. Eczema was the only allergic disease that showed a modest increase in prevalence in both age groups.