Trends in the prevalence of asthma and dyspnoea in first year university students, 1972-89

The prevalence of asthma and dyspnoeic symptoms were studied in undergraduates from Ireland, north and south, entering Queen's University Belfast in the years 1972, 1978, 1983, 1986 and 1989. The records of students' compulsory entry medical examination, including responses to questions on dyspnoeic symptoms in a health screening questionnaire, were reviewed. Between 1972 and 1989, the 12-month period prevalence of asthma increased from 1.3% to 2.84% (p < 0.001). This increase was not accounted for by the changes in the sex, or socioeconomic structure of the student body. In non-asthmatics the prevalence of dyspnoea rose from 5.49% to 8.30% (p < 0.01). In students with diagnosed asthma, the proportion with dyspnoeic symptoms did not significantly increase (p = 0.167). There was a greater than two-fold increase in the prevalence of diagnosed asthma in this population between 1972 and 1989. The prevalence of asthma was higher in rural than in urban students. There was also an increased reporting of dyspnoea in non-asthmatics, the significance of which is unclear.