Asthma Tapers Off

Aug. 12, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It appears that despite the rise in asthma cases in the last two decades, the disease seems to be leveling off. A new study by several government agencies indicates the number of cases stopped growing from 1997 to 2000. In the 1980s and for much of the 1990s, cases rose 4.3 percent per year.

One positive finding is that while the proportion of children with asthma has steadily risen, asthma attacks have not. The researchers say the greatest disparity within the disease is still between races. In the United States, about 5 million children have asthma. Between 1995 and 1996, the incidence of asthma grew 26 percent more in black children than in white children.

While asthma deaths are rare, the death rate increased by an average of 3.4 percent per year through 1998 and began to decline in 1997. Death rates were similar in whites and Hispanics but were more than four times higher among blacks. Researchers write, "Black, non-Hispanic children had the highest asthma death rates and the greatest increase over time."

The doctors are hesitant to say their research shows a trend. They say further research must be done before coming to that conclusion.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2002;110:315-322

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