Changes in the Prevalence of Asthma in the Spanish Cohort of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS-II)

Objetive The rise in the prevalence of asthma in the second half of the 20th century has not been evenly distributed according to recent surveys. We assessed changes in the prevalence of asthma after a period of 9 to 10 years in a cohort of young adults in the Spanish arm of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Material and Methods The ECRHS-II is a multicenter cohort study taking place in 27 centers around Europe, with Spanish centers located in Albacete, Barcelona, Galdakao, Huelva, and Oviedo. The ECRHS questionnaire was administered to individuals who had participated in the first phase of the survey; spirometry and methacholine challenge tests were also performed according to the published protocol. Results Among new smokers, the prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months increased from 10% to 33%, while the frequency of phlegm production rose from 8% to 22% ( P P P Conclusions Increased prevalence rates of asthma diagnosis and treatment have been detected, but the rates of reported symptoms have remained similar, consistent with the assumption that more persons are being classified as asthmatics.