Abstract
Based on the data from questionnaires on first grader through sixth-grader of elementary schools (3356 pupils, rate of collected replies: 97.3%) using a Japanese version and a revised version of the ATS-DLD, the difference in the definitions of bronchial asthma, especially the difference between the definition in the narrow sense (a close definition) and that in the wide sense (an approximate definition), and the degree of disease prevalence rates that would be changed depending on cumulative rates, etc. were studied. The following shows the result of our study.
1. Current pvevalence rates of bronchial asthma based on a close definition: 5.23%
2. Cumulative prevalence rates of bronchial asthma based on a close definition: 7.07%
3. Cumulative prevanlence rates of bronchial asthma on an approximate definition: 8.90%
4. Current prevalence rates of wheeze: 4.65%
5. Cumulative prevalence rates of wheeze: 13.57%
6. Cumulative prevalence rates of bronchial asthma in each past clinical history: 17.53%
7. Current prevalence rates of bronchial asthma defined closely together with wheeze: 9.35%
The difference in prevalence rates due to different definitions showed maximally 3 times or more. There was a tendency that prevalence rates turned out to be on the decrease as each pupil advanced to a higher grade. Usually prevalence rates of boys showed higher rates than those of girls, regardless of the different definitions to be used.
