| Summary: | Asthma prevalence in children under age 18 has risen steadily in the U.S. since the mid-1970s. Most researchers attribute this increase to air pollutants, socioeconomic status or
urban residence. This study examined asthma prevalence in Lane County, Oregon, using
children's asthma hospital discharges (1990-1995), and data from 10 of 16 school
districts. The overall asthma prevalence in Lane County was 5.8%, ranging from 1.9%
(coastal Siuslaw District) to 10% (urban, industrial Bethel District). Asthma prevalence
during 1988-1997 was examined for the largest school district, Eugene 4J (43% of the
total study population). Eugene 4J is divided into four regions: North, South, Churchill,
and Sheldon. The largest asthma prevalence increase during this time was detected in
North Region (2.5%-8%), while the overall district prevalence nearly doubled (3.3%-6.2%). No correlation was found between socioeconomic status and asthma prevalence,
and there was not a consistent pattern between asthma prevalence and location of each
school district (urban vs. rural). Two out of the three urban school districts had higher
asthma prevalence than five of the rural school districts. However, three school districts
did not follow this pattern, either being lower than expected for an urban area or higher
than expected for a rural area. Asthma hospitalization rates increased for most children
between 1990 and 1995, with a 20-fold increase for ages 15-19 years. The results of this
study show an increase in prevalence and severity of asthma in school children in Lane
County. Further studies are warranted to investigate the contribution that geography,
meteorology, and proximity to industry have in asthma prevalence in Lane County. === Graduation date: 1999
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