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Objective-To estimate whether the prevalence of asthma in adults increased over a nine year interval. Design-Serial cross sectional studies of the population with a protocol that included both subjective and objective measurements.Setting-Busselton, Western Australia. Subjects-A random sample of 553 subjects aged 18-55 years in 1981, and of 1028 subjects aged 18-55 years in 1990. Main outcome measures-Respiratory symptoms measured by self administered questionnaire, bronchial responsiveness measured by bronchial challenge with histamine, and allergy measured by skin prick tests.Results-Symptoms with increased prevalence were those with significant association with allergy in this population. Recent wheeze increased from 17.5% to 28-8% (p

Background and Objective: We examined the reliability and validity of self-reported limitations encountered in the activities of daily living (ADL) as measure of functional performance, for Turkish, Moroccan, and indigenous Dutch elderly in the Netherlands.Methods: We obtained data on self-reported ADL measured by Katz' ADL index and on five related health outcomes among a general population sample of 304 Dutch, 330 Turkish, and 299 Moroccan respondents aged 55e74 years, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (response: 60%).Results: Katz' ADL index demonstrated good internal consistencies for each ethnic group (Cronbach's alphas: 0.84e0.94). Regarding validity, the ADL index showed relatively strong associations with related outcomes, that is, long-term limitations in mobility and SF-36 physical functioning (rank correlations: 0.64 and À0.60, respectively). Associations with more general health outcomes, number of chronic disorders, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale symptoms, and SF-36 role performance were weaker, as expected. Associations were stronger for Moroccans than for indigenous Dutch elderly regarding both SF-36 outcomes and depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Katz' ADL index is valid to assess functional performance of Turkish, Moroccan, and Dutch elderly, but comparisons with Moroccan elderly should be handled with caution. The explanation of these findings and their generalizability to other ethnic groups deserve further study. Ó

The utility of the CES-D for elderly migrants of Turkish and Moroccan descent was found to be satisfactory.

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