Prevalence of asthma among teenagers attending school in Tahiti.

Abstract

SUMMARY The prevalence ofasthma was studied in 6731 adolescents (average age 13.5 years, 48.6% boys) attending school in three towns of the isle of Tahiti, according to the ethnic origin of both parents. The pupils completed a self-administered questionnaire in class; 14.3% gave an affirmative answer to the question "Have you ever had attacks of asthma?" (cumulative prevalence). That prevalence was 11.4% in the Europeans, 13.7% in the Chinese, 13.8% in the Polynesians, 15.3% in those whose parents were "halves" (half-bred from Polynesians and Europeans), and 16.0% in the miscellaneous group (= other origins) (P<0.02). Asthma was significantly more frequent in boys only among the Europeans and those with one European parent. The results of this study confirm the high prevalence of asthma in French Polynesia found in a previous study. They give no evidence of a racial difference in prevalence but suggest an influence of environment.

Prevalence of symptoms of childhood asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the Pacific: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)

“…To our knowledge, there have been no previous surveys of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or eczema in the Pacific. As noted above, of the few studies of asthma prevalence (4–6) conducted in the Pacific prior to the ISAAC study, none were comparable in either methodology or used similar instruments. Waite et al used a self‐completed questionnaire (6) and reported a prevalence of 11.0% among 706 Tokelauan children aged 0–14 years in Tokelau compared with 25.3% of the 1160 Tokelauan children seen in New Zealand.…”

“…Waite et al used a self‐completed questionnaire (6) and reported a prevalence of 11.0% among 706 Tokelauan children aged 0–14 years in Tokelau compared with 25.3% of the 1160 Tokelauan children seen in New Zealand. Another self‐administered questionnaire study of 6731 adolescent schoolchildren (average age 13.5 years) in Tahiti in French Polynesia reported that 14.3% gave an affirmative answer to the question ‘Have you ever had attacks of asthma?’; the prevalence was 11.4% among Europeans, 13.7% among Chinese, 13.8% among Polynesians, and 15.3% among children of mixed Polynesia–European ancestry (4). Thus, Liard et al (4) found no evidence for any differences in asthma prevalence between the three main ethnic groups participating (European, Chinese, Polynesian).…”

“…Another self‐administered questionnaire study of 6731 adolescent schoolchildren (average age 13.5 years) in Tahiti in French Polynesia reported that 14.3% gave an affirmative answer to the question ‘Have you ever had attacks of asthma?’; the prevalence was 11.4% among Europeans, 13.7% among Chinese, 13.8% among Polynesians, and 15.3% among children of mixed Polynesia–European ancestry (4). Thus, Liard et al (4) found no evidence for any differences in asthma prevalence between the three main ethnic groups participating (European, Chinese, Polynesian). Admissions for asthma however were three times higher in Fijian Indians compared to Fijians (Melanesians) in a study of national hospital admissions among 5‐ to 14‐year‐old children in Fiji for the 4 years between 1985 and 1989 (5).…”

“…However, the only Pacific countries that participated in ISAAC Phase I were Australia and New Zealand, and these included only a small number of Pacific children (3). A number of other studies have been conducted in the Pacific, including those of Liard et al among teenagers attending school in Tahiti (4), Flynn's studies of children in Fiji (5) and Tokelau children in New Zealand (6). However, these have used a variety of methods and the findings are therefore not comparable.…”

An interview study to estimate prevalence of asthma and chronic bronchitis

“…Asthma is not the only cause of attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, yet this symptom complex is commonly used as a diagnostic criterion for asthma in epidemiological studies (26). Asthma is not the only cause of attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, yet this symptom complex is commonly used as a diagnostic criterion for asthma in epidemiological studies (26).…”