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. 2013 May;8(4):27-34.

The rising prevalence of asthma: true increase, diagnostic exchange or diagnostic accuracy?

Randall R Fransoo  1 , Patricia J Martens; Need to Know Team; Heather J Prior, Alan Katz, Elaine Burland, Nathan C Nickel, Dan Chateau
Affiliations

The rising prevalence of asthma: true increase, diagnostic exchange or diagnostic accuracy?

Randall R Fransoo et al. Healthc Policy. 2013 May.

Abstract
in English, French

In the midst of frequent reports about "the asthma epidemic," results from a number of studies by the manitoba centre for health policy have shown stable or decreasing prevalence of an overall indicator of respiratory diseases which includes asthma. To resolve these apparently contrary findings, we conducted a time trend analysis using administrative data. results revealed significant potential for diagnostic exchange: asthma prevalence increased, but that of bronchitis decreased.

Dans le contexte des fréquents rapports indiquant une « épidémie d'asthme », les résultats de plusieurs études effectuées par le Centre des politiques de santé du Manitoba montrent une prévalence stable ou en déclin d'un indicateur global des maladies respiratoires, y compris l'asthme. Afin de résoudre la contradiction apparente de ces résultats, nous avons effectué une analyse évolutive des tendances au moyen de données administratives. Les résultats révèlent une forte possibilité de substitution de diagnostic: la prévalence de l'asthme a augmenté, mais celle de la bronchite a diminué.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Prevalence of respiratory diseases over time, all ages
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Prevalence of respiratory diseases over time, ages 0–4 years
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
Prevalence of respiratory diseases over time, ages 75+
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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