[Asthma in schoolchildren from Recife, Brazil. Prevalence comparison: 1994-95 and 2002]

To describe the prevalence of asthma and asthma variants in schoolchildren from Recife in 2002, and to compare these data with data from 1994-95; to analyze the relationship between maternal schooling and the presence of asthma or worsening asthma; and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the yearly prevalence of wheezing as an asthma indicator.

Cross-sectional study. A probabilistic sample of 3,086 and 2,774 13- and 14-year-old students answered a written questionnaire in 1994-95 and 2002, as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.

The following prevalence rates were observed in 1994-95 and 2002, respectively: cumulative prevalence of referred asthma: 21 vs 18.2%; cumulative prevalence of wheezing: 39 vs 38%; yearly prevalence of wheezing: 19.7 vs 19.4%; yearly prevalence of night cough: 31 vs 38%; yearly prevalence of exercise-induced wheezing: 20.6 vs 23.8%. The yearly prevalence of asthma attacks was 16.3 vs 15.2% for 1 to 3 attacks; 2.7% vs 1.2% for 4 to 12 attacks; and 1% vs 0.4% for more than 12 attacks. The yearly prevalence of attacks that disturbed sleep was 13 and 10.3%. The yearly prevalence of attacks with compromised speech was 4.8 and 4.1%. Higher levels of maternal schooling were related to higher cumulative prevalence of referred asthma and to cumulative and yearly prevalence of wheezing.

The prevalence of asthma and its severe forms is high in teenager students in Recife. It is also related to higher levels of maternal schooling.