Total population survey of the frequency and severity of asthma in 17 year old boys in an urban area in Israel.

BACKGROUND There is evidence that the prevalence of asthma in children and young people is increasing. METHODS An examination of a total population (35,170) of 17 year old Jewish boys of one seaside urban area in Israel was undertaken during two years, 1986 and 1990, by trained respiratory physicians in a regional recruiting office of the Israel Defence Forces. All boys who had ever been diagnosed as having asthma or symptoms that could have been due to asthma underwent a further examination by respiratory physicians that included spirometry at rest. A test to evaluate exercise induced asthma was performed on a treadmill in 88% of the boys. RESULTS Lifetime prevalence (asthma in the past or at present) increased from 7.9% in 1986 to 9.6% in 1990. Point prevalence (current asthma) increased from 5.0% to 5.9%. The prevalence of current asthma increased in all degrees of severity (mild disease from 3.3% to 3.7%, moderate disease from 1.7% to 2.2%, and severe disease from 0.03% to 0.04%). By the age of 17, 77.4% of boys who had suffered from asthma had no or only very mild symptoms. CONCLUSIONS It is considered that the measured increase in prevalence of asthma from 1986 to 1990 reflects a true increase among the Jewish Israeli population.