辽宁省大中城市及郊区老年人支气管哮喘患病率调查

目的　调查辽宁省大、中城市及其郊区老年人支气管哮喘 (哮喘 )的患病情况 ,为老年人哮喘的防治提供依据。　方法　以分层整群不等比随机抽样对照方法 ,抽取全省人口的 2 5‰以上人口共 1162 76人 ,对其中≥ 60岁的 12 73 5名老年人哮喘患病情况进行分析。　结果　确诊老年哮喘患者 52 2例 ,患病率为 4 0 9% ,显著高于我省同期现患病率的 1 2 5% ,其中男 2 0 7例、女 3 15例 ,女性显著高于男性 (P <0 0 1)。农村老年人哮喘患病率显著高于城市 (患病率分别为 5 2 4%和3 0 1% ,P <0 0 1)。城市工业区老年人哮喘患病率高于文化区 (患病率分别为 3 85%和 2 44% ,P<0 0 5) ,起病年龄在 60岁以上者 50例 ,占 9 58%。本次调查确诊为哮喘者 2 13例 ,漏诊率为40 80 %。　结论　哮喘是老年人的常见疾病 ,加强其防治极为重要     

南宁市城区0～14岁儿童哮喘流行病学调查

目的 调查南宁市城区儿童哮喘患病情况及发病的危险因素.方法 以幼儿园、学校、社区为单位,采取整群抽样调查方法.于2010年10月至2011年7月调查所抽取区域0～14岁儿童哮喘患病情况,之后行病例对照研究,筛查儿童哮喘发病的危险因素.结果 调查出儿童哮喘总患病率2.70%(370/13689)、两年现患率1.99%(272/13689);370例患儿中,男227例,女143例,男、女患病率分别为3.18%、2.18%(P＜0.01);汉族248例,壮族100例,汉、壮族患病率分别为2.72%、2.66%(P＞0.05);75.14%的患儿于＜4岁首次喘息;93.51%的患儿以呼吸道感染为发作诱因,发作时间以无明显规律、午夜为主,好发时节以无明显规律、季节更换多见;发作先兆以打喷嚏、流涕、鼻塞为主,发作表现主要为咳嗽、喘息,发作类型多为缓慢或不定形式起病;98.38%的患儿经常发作强度为轻、中度;74.32%的患儿应用过吸入糖皮质激素;10.27%的患儿仅单独应用全身用糖皮质激素;56.22%的儿童哮喘合并过敏性鼻炎;经Logistic回归分析显示孩子出生前后父亲吸烟、剖宫产、1岁内使用抗菌药物对儿童哮喘患病有影响.结论 南宁市城区0～14岁儿童哮喘总患病率为2.70%,两年现患病率为1.99%;男孩患病率高于女孩;汉、壮族患病率无差异;孩子出生前后父亲吸烟、剖宫产、1岁内使用抗菌药物为儿童哮喘发病的危险因素.     

2002年新疆巴音郭楞蒙古自治州结核病流行病学调查

为掌握新疆巴音郭楞蒙古自治州结核病疫情现状 ,2 0 0 2年按第四次全国结核病流调实施细则进行了疫情调查 ,结果显示 :( 1)调查 5个点 675 2人 ,发现活动性肺结核病人 3 9例 ,患病率 5 77.61/ 10万 ,经标化后为 460 .2 7/ 10万 ;( 2 )活动性肺结核患病率男性为 5 0 0 .74/ 10万 ,女性为 65 5 .3 5 / 10万 ,无统计学意义 (P >0 .5 ) ;( 3 )肺结核患病率 15～ 44岁年龄组占 5 8.98% ,患病以青壮年为主 ;( 4 )初、复治比例 ,初治占 69.2 0 % ,复治占 3 0 .80 % ,( 5 )各民族结核病患病率不同 ,有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 0 5 ) ;( 6) 0～ 14岁年龄组儿童结核菌素试验感染率为 19.19% ;( 7)流调时新发活动性肺结核占 82 .0 5 % ,已知病人占 17.95 %。调查表明巴州结核病患病率和感染率还较高 ,尤其是青壮年结核病患病率高 ,复治病人比例高 ,对尚未发现的活动性肺结核病人要引起重视。     

儿童哮喘控制——正确诊断、规范治疗、教育管理缺一不可

2000年流行病学调查显示．我国儿童哮喘累积患病率为0．25％-4．63％（平均1．97％），相比于1990年调查累积患病率0．11％～2．03％（平均1．00％）而言。10年内儿童哮喘患病率平均上升了64．8％。2008年10月《中华儿科杂志》发表了我国最新修订的“儿童支气管哮喘诊断与防治指南”。2008年11月14～16日．在北京协和医院变态反应科和美国变态反应、     

北京、重庆、广州三城市儿童哮喘患病情况调查

目的分析北京、重庆、广州三城市儿童哮喘患病情况,为今后儿童哮喘防治工作提供科学依据。方法采用多阶抽样方法分别从北京、重庆、广州抽取0～14岁儿童10372、9846及4072名,采用国际通用的儿童哮喘及变态反应性疾病国际研究(International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood,ISAAC)调查问卷进行调查,了解三城市儿童哮喘患病情况。结果北京、重庆、广州儿童哮喘患病率分别为3.15%、7.45%及2.09%,3岁以前首次发作的患儿比例分别为57.21%、69.91%及60.00%;北京、重庆、广州哮喘儿童中半数以上近12个月仍有喘息、夜间干咳、运动后干咳等哮喘症状。结论我国儿童哮喘患病仍呈明显上升趋势,大部分哮喘患儿3岁前发病。     

北京市通州区农村儿童哮喘初筛问卷调查分析

目的：初筛北京市通州区农村儿童支气管哮喘患病率,为农村儿童支气管哮喘的防治和管理提供流行病学依据。方法采取随机整群抽样的调查方法,应用2011年全国哮喘防治协作组制定的儿童哮喘流行病学调查初筛表,对通州区5个乡村共12所幼儿园、卫生保健院及中小学校0～14岁儿童进行问卷调查,对问卷调查结果进行统计学分析。结果共发出初筛问卷4000份,有效问卷3779份,有效应答率94．5％。问卷调查结果显示,通州区农村儿童哮喘（婴幼儿及儿童哮喘）患病率为1．2％,男女患病率分别为1．7％、0．8％,男童显著高于女童（ P＜0．05）;过敏性鼻炎、有湿疹史、有家族过敏史患儿的哮喘患病率分别高于无过敏性鼻炎、无湿疹史、无家族过敏史患儿（P＜0．05或＜0．01）。结论北京市通州区农村儿童哮喘患病率较低,且在性别、年龄及合并变应性疾病、家族过敏史上有其特点。     

泰兴地区0～14岁儿童哮喘流行病调查和危险性因素分析

目的通过流行病学调查,了解泰兴地区0~14岁儿童哮喘发病与治疗现状,并对哮喘的危险性因素进行统计分析,为合理防治哮喘提供科学依据。方法采用整群抽样的方法,按照各年龄段人口比例对泰兴地区4976名1~14岁儿童进行问卷调查,共筛查确诊157名哮喘患儿作为病例组。同时,选取无统计学差异的157名健康儿童作为对照组。采取单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析方法,探讨哮喘的危险性因素。结果泰兴地区0~14岁儿童哮喘患病率为3.16%,男、女患病率比为1.9:1.0;哮喘患儿中,0~3岁和7~9岁年龄段儿童患病率最高,均为3.9%;首次发病集中在婴幼儿期(61.8%)和学龄初期(27.3%),在换季时容易发作(39.7%),大多患者易发时辰没有规律,发作诱因最常见的为呼吸道感染。哮喘的治疗药物主要是支气管舒张剂和抗生素,而吸入激素疗法的普及率较低。对病例组和对照组的单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,个人过敏(P0.01)、家族过敏(P0.01)、亲属哮喘(P0.01)、早产(P0.05)是儿童哮喘发生的独立危险因素,母乳喂养是保护性因素(P0.05)。结论泰兴地区0~14岁儿童哮喘患病率为3.16%,比2000年全国调查水平高。哮喘的危险性因素包括过敏史、哮喘史以及早产与否。根据调查结果,可积极而又针对性的对本地区哮喘病进行防治。     

北京地区职业人群支气管哮喘及其相关病症的患病率调查

目的　探讨环境因素与支气管哮喘 (简称哮喘 )患病率的关系。方法　 1997年～ 2 0 0 0年在北京地区进行多中心 ,以统一设计的表格、步骤 ,不等比分层、随机、整群抽样、问卷及必要的检查进行职业人群哮喘及其相关疾病患病率的流行病学调查。结果　 10个不同行业 ,5 0 5 5 8个样本的职业人群哮喘患病率流行病学调查显示 ,确诊哮喘患者 63 0例 ,患病率为 1 2 5 % ,而市区商贸职工、普通化工厂职工、北京郊区某大型石化公司职工的哮喘患病率依次为 0 5 1%、1 0 6%、2 81%。普通化工厂和石化职工的哮喘患病率明显高于远郊区农民 (0 43 % ,P <0 0 1)。以远郊区农村哮喘相对危险度(RR)为“1”进行分析显示 ,城市一般职工、普通工厂职工、石化公司职工 ,中、小学生哮喘患病率的RR分别为 1 88、2 79、5 19和 3 0 5 ,5 0 %可信区间均表明 ,其哮喘RR有统计学意义。结论　北京地区哮喘患病率与职业环境有关 ,提示环境污染可能是哮喘患病率增高的重要因素     

加强支气管哮喘的流行病学研究

1997年至 1999年 ,辽宁、广东两省及上海浦东新区在 2 2万人中进行了抽样调查 ,其哮喘累积患病率为 0 7%～ 1 5 % ,儿童为 0 11%～ 2 0 3% ;辽宁省为 1 2 5 % (145 5 / 1162 76) ,农村为 1 89% (893/4 7171) ,城市为 0 81% (5 62 / 6910 5 ) ,女性高于男性 ;广东省为 0 94 % (675 / 71867) ;上海浦东新区为0 4 1% (163/ 4 0 0 0 0 )。以此估算全国有哮喘患者15 0 0万。哮喘流行病学研究的主要内容包括设计、测量和评价三部分 ,简称ＤＭＥ。设计是指研究方法和观察方法的设计。为减少抽样误差和进行不同层的独立分析 ,辽宁和广东两省均…     

青岛地区20～74岁人群糖尿病患病率调查

目的　了解青岛地区成人糖尿病 (DM )的患病率。　方法　采用分层随机整群抽样方法 ,在 2 0 0 1年 5月～ 2 0 0 2年 6月期间 ,横断面调查青岛地区 2县 5区 2 0～ 74岁居民 14 6 0 6名。除市南区的 2 170名居民直接采用口服 75 g葡萄糖耐量试验 (OGTT)进行筛查外 ,其余各点的 12 4 36名被调查者需先行指血筛查 ,当毛细血管血糖≥ 6 1mmol/L时进行OGTT确定诊断。　结果　青岛地区 2 0～ 74岁人群DM标化的患病率为 5 5 % ,其中 6 4 5 %为新诊断的DM。其中市南区居民DM、糖耐量受损 (IGT)、空腹血糖受损 (IFG)和糖调节受损 (IGR)的标化患病率分别为 9 1%、6 6 %、4 5 %和 11 1%。乡村居民DM的患病率低于城镇居民 (5 0 %比 6 1% ,P <0 0 0 1)。乡村中 ,女性患病率高于男性 (5 7%比 4 0 % ,P <0 0 1)。随着年龄的增加 ,DM的患病率逐渐增加。　结论　青岛地区DM患病率与 1994年及 1996年全国流行病学调查结果相比 ,青岛地区DM的患病率明显升高。随着地区的城市化和人口的老龄化程度进一步增加 ,DM患病率将有更大幅度的升高     

Trends in prevalence and risk factors of childhood asthma in Fuzhou,a city in Southeastern China

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of asthma in children age 0–14 years in Fuzhou, a city in Southeast China, was 1.57% in 1990 and 3.28% in 2000. The aim of this study was to investigate the asthma prevalence and risk factors in children in the same city in 2010. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a two-stage, clustered, stratified random sample design. Parents of 12?235 children 0–14 years of age in Fuzhou were surveyed using a questionnaire. Children with history and/or symptoms of asthma were then interviewed by pediatricians in a nearby clinic to confirm the diagnosis of asthma, and a second questionnaire listing reported risk factors of asthma was completed by the parents in the clinic. Results: About 11?738 questionnaires were completed with a response rate of 95.9%. Among the responders, 648 children had history and/or symptoms of asthma but only 485 (4.13%) were confirmed with asthma. The prevalence was 1.83%, 7.64% and 6.27% in the age groups of 0–1 years, 3–4 years and 13–14 years, respectively. The most significant (binary logistic regression test) factors associated with asthma were presence of atopic or allergic diseases (OR?=?21.5, 95% CI: 12–38.5), family history of allergy or asthma (OR?=?29.4, 95% CI: 12.6–68.6), use of at least one course of antibiotics in the first year of life (OR?=?7.61, 95% CI: 3.4–17.06), supplementary protein feedings before 6 months (OR?=?1.90, 95% CI: 1.23–2.95). Natural ventilation at home (versus frequent use of air-conditioning) appeared to be a protective factor (OR?=?0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.8). Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma in childhood has increased significantly during the past 20 years in Fuzhou.     

Prevalence of Asthma and Other Childhood Allergies in Brazilian Schoolchildren

We determined the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema among Brazilian children using the standardized protocol of the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to facilitate the comparison of our results with other studies using the ISAAC methodology. We conducted a cross-sectional study from June to October 1994 to determine the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in 5182 school children aged 7-8 years and 13-14 years residing in the Brazilian towns of Santa Maria and Itabira (iron-mining cities located in Minas Gerais). Parents completed questionnaires at their child's school in the presence of trained interviewers. The cumulative prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 4.6% for all ages with no significant difference between the age groups. In general, there was a higher prevalence of symptoms in the younger age group than the older. The prevalence of wheezing in the previous 12 months was 14.3% (7-8 years old) and 9.3% (13-14 years old) (p ≤ 0.01), of chronic cough in the previous 12 months was 25.6% (7-8 years old) and 22.1% (13-14 years old) (p ≤ 0.01), and of nighttime cough in the previous 12 months was 22.3% (7-8 years old) and 19.4% (13-14 years old) (p ≤ 0.05). Overall the prevalences of asthma and wheezing symptoms in the previous 12 months were higher for boys than girls (5.2% vs. 3.9% for asthma, p ≤ 0.01, and 13.2% vs. 10.6% for wheezing, p ≤ 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that asthma-related respiratory illnesses affect a substantial part of the childhood population in Itabira and Santa Maria, Minas Gerais. Some factors such as male gender and younger age may be associated with an increase risk for chronic respiratory symptoms. Prevalences of asthma and allergic diseases in these Brazilian cities on the basis of self-reporting of symptoms and of one's medical history may more accurately portray the true prevalence of asthma than the use of medical records.     

Prevalence of Asthma and Related Symptoms in School-Age Children in S�o Paulo, Brazil—International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC)

We studied the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms using a standard written questionnaire designed for the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). The written questionnaire (questions 1-8 related to asthma) was applied to 3005 children aged 6-7 years and to 3008 children aged 13-14 years. The parents of the 6-7-year-old children answered the questionnaire, whereas the 13-14-year-old children answered the questionnaire themselves. Response rates were 72% in the 6-7-year-old group and 94% in the 13-14-year-old group. There was a slight predominance of females in the population studied (male:female ratio 0.94). In the group of the 6-7-year-old children, the prevalence of diagnosed asthma was 7.3% for boys and 4.9% for girls, and in the group of the 13-14-year-old children, the prevalence was 9.8% and 10.2% for boys and girls, respectively. Asthma severity was similar for both age groups, and wheezing following exercise was more frequent among the adolescents. In keeping with studies in other parts of the world, comparison between reported symptoms and diagnosed asthma revealed significantly lower frequency of diagnosed asthma, suggesting that in the population we have studied, asthma is underdiagnosed. Using a global cut-off score to define asthma, we found a significantly higher prevalence of asthma among 6-7-year-old boys, as compared to girls (23.8% vs. 20.4%), and no significant differences among adolescent boys and girls (22.5% and 21.9%, respectively).     

Increasing prevalence of asthma in UK primary care during the 1990s.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate recent prevalence trends of physician-diagnosed asthma in primary care in the UK, and to test the hypothesis that the asthma epidemic in the UK peaked in the mid-1990s and is currently declining. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of asthma patients was obtained from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD). From January 1990 to February 1999, asthmatics were followed up to death, censoring or mention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their clinical record. Prevalence rates of ever and managed asthma were obtained by sex, age and calendar year. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: From 1990 to 1998, annual prevalence rates of managed physician-diagnosed asthma in women rose from 3.01% (95%CI 2.99-3.03) to 5.14% (95%CI 5.10-5.18), and in men from 3.44% (95%CI 3.41-3.46) to 5.06% (95 %CI 5.02-5.10) (P for trend <0.01 in both). In 1998, prevalence rates of managed asthma in children aged 5-14 affected 7.86% (95%CI 7.71-8.00) of girls and 10.30% (95%CI 10.15-10.47) of boys. Increasing prevalence rates in adult asthma (maximum 4.11% in 1998, 95%CI 4.03-4.19) and elderly asthma (maximum 3.37% in 1998, 95%CI 3.29-3.46) were observed as well in 1998. The study shows that the burden of asthma in UK primary care during the 1990s was still increasing.     

Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema among children in Vientiane city, Lao PDR

An International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) revealed a wide range of prevalences of childhood asthma in the world. Lao PDR had no such epidemiological data yet. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in children in the country. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Vientiane City, the capital of Lao PDR, in 1997 using the ISAAC questionnaire. From three primary schools and one high school, 395 children, age 6-7 years, and 468 children, age 13-14 years, were chosen. The prevalence of asthma for children aged 13-14 years in Lao PDR was 25.6%, which ranks the highest in international asthma prevalence. The prevalence in allergic-rhinoconjunctivitis of children was 24.4% and atopic eczema was 7.1%. Contrary to generally accepted risk factors, there were no associations revealed between asthma prevalence and smoking of family members (especially mothers), intake of fish/meat, and male gender.     

Increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes in children aged 0-14 years in Harbin, China (1990-2000)

AIMS: (1) To determine the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children aged<15 years in Harbin, China and (2) to examine the trend in incidence over the period from 1990 to 2000. METHODS: Newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes from 1990 to 2000 were identified among 1,286,154 Chinese children aged 0-14 years in Harbin. The primary source of case ascertainment was from hospital records and the secondary source from the health records of school clinics. RESULTS: One hundred and three cases were identified during 1990 and 2000. The annual incidence rate was 0.73 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.59-0.88 per 100,000). No significant difference between males and females in the incidence of type 1 diabetes was observed. The incidence was significantly associated with age. With those aged<5 years as reference, the rate ratios were 2.06 and 4.1 for those aged 5-9 and 10-14 years, respectively. The incidence was higher in urban than in suburban regions, particularly among those aged 10-14 years. No significant seasonality was observed. There was a significant increasing trend in the incidence of type 1 diabetes during the period of 1990 and 2000, with an annual increase of 7.4% (95% CI: 1.6-13.5%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significantly increasing trend in the incidence of type 1 diabetes among children in Harbin. Increased number of cases has important implications for diabetes care providers. Understanding the etiology of this rise is critical for developing preventive measures to halt the trend.     

Prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in school children from Juarez City, Chihuahua]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergic diseases in schoolchildren residing in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1998 to May 1999, among 6,174 children from 53 schools in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The method used was the one recommended by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to determine the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. Parents were asked to answer a standardized questionnaire on current and cumulative prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. A sample stratified by level of pollution was selected. RESULTS: The cumulative prevalence of medically diagnosed asthma and wheezing was 6.8% (95% CI 6.2, 7.4) and 20% (95% CI 19.7, 21.8), respectively. The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months was higher in the group aged 6-8 years than in those aged 11-14 years (9.7% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of medically diagnosed rhinitis was 5.0% (95% CI 4.5, 5.6). The prevalence of medically diagnosed eczema was 4.9% (4.3, 5.4). The prevalence of eczema symptoms in the last 12 months was 12.7% in the 6-8 years group and 13.3% in the 11-14 year group, respectively. Severe symptoms of asthma were significantly higher in the 6-8 years group and during the autumn months. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of medically diagnosed and symptomatic asthma was relatively low in comparison with findings from others studies that use similar methods, but the prevalence rates of rhinitis and eczema were higher.     

Prevalence of asthma symptoms in Latin America: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms indicative of asthma in children from Latin America has been largely ignored. As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), 17 centers in 9 different Latin American countries participated in the study, and data from 52,549 written questionnaires (WQ) in children aged 13-14 years and from 36,264 WQ in 6-7 year olds are described here. In children aged 13-14 years, the prevalence of asthma ever ranged from 5.5-28%, and the prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months from 6.6-27%. In children aged 6-7 years, the prevalence of asthma ever ranged from 4.1-26.9%, and the prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months ranged from 8.6-32.1%. The lower prevalence in centers with higher levels of atmospheric pollution suggests that chronic inhalation of polluted air in children does not contribute to asthma. Furthermore, the high figures for asthma in a region with a high level of gastrointestinal parasite infestation, and a high burden of acute respiratory infections occurring early in life, suggest that these factors, considered as protective in other regions, do not have the same effect in this region. The present study indicates that the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in Latin America is as high and variable as described in industrialized or developed regions of the world.     

Sex differences in the presentation and course of asthma hospitalizations

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish between differences in prevalence, asthma severity, and treatment to explain sex-related differences in hospitalized asthma patients. DESIGN: Medical record review. SETTING: Thirty US hospitals as part of the University HealthSystem Consortium Asthma Clinical Benchmarking Project. PATIENTS: A random sample of patients aged 2 to 54 years and admitted to the hospital for acute asthma from 1999 to 2000. MEASUREMENTS: Demographics, medical history, initial oxygen saturation, initial peak expiratory flow (adults), initial pulmonary index (children), emergency department course, length of hospital stay, and discharge plans. RESULTS: The cohort included 606 pediatric (aged 2 to 17 years) and 680 adult (aged 18 to 54 years) inpatients. The sex ratio varied significantly by age: 40% were girls 2 to 17 years of age, and 68% were women 18 to 54 years of age p < 0.001). Among children, girls did not differ from boys according to asthma history, pulmonary index scores, or hospital length of stay. Among adults, women were more likely to have a primary care provider (90% vs 73%, p < 0.001) but did not differ according to asthma history or recent medication use. Women had a higher mean initial PEF compared to men (43% of predicted vs 36% of predicted, p < 0.001) and higher median initial oxygen saturation (95% vs 93%, p = 0.002) but did not differ by hospital length of stay. No sex differences in discharge regimens were identified in children or adults. CONCLUSIONS: Among US inpatients with acute asthma, male children are more common than female children, while women are more common in adults. The results in children are probably explained by prevalence differences, since no sex differences were seen in markers of asthma severity or treatment. In adults, increased symptoms in response to a given level of airway obstruction in women may contribute to the female predominance in asthma hospitalizations.