The prevalence of asthma in general practice

The survey reveals important data about onset of asthma and total attendances for asthma by Australian general practitioners. A comparison is made between data on asthma from the National Morbidity Survey 1962-63, and the Australian General Practitioner's Morbidity and Prescribing Survey 1969 to 1974. A slight male preponderance is demonstrated, most marked in infancy, but also in old age. The hypothesis is propounded that androgens may play a protective role in asthma, but females have a genetic advantage. It is noted that in the 'teens' and early adulthood, there is an increase in female patients. The onset of asthma occurs more often in autumn and spring than in summer and winter. The occurrence of asthma appears to becoming less relative to other disease. Although there was once relatively more asthma in the metropolitan areas compared with non-metropolitan, there is now less.