Trends in childhood asthma hospitalisation in three Asia Pacific countries.

Aim: The study aims to examine recent childhood asthma hospitalisation rates in the Asia Pacific countries of Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. On the background of reported decline in many countries with high asthma prevalence during late 1990s.

Methods: Annual asthma hospitalisation (ICD9-CM: 493 or ICD10-AM: J45-46)* and population data from 1994 to 2008, of children aged 0-14 years old, were obtained from the Australian National Hospital Morbidity Database, from the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong and from the Ministry of Health in Singapore.

Pediatric asthma mortality and hospitalization trends across Asia pacific: relationship with asthma drug utilization patterns.

Background: : The wide variability in prevalence of childhood asthma across Asia Pacific is well documented, but less is known about its trends in mortality and hospitalization.

Objectives: : To examine pediatric asthma mortality and hospitalization trends of selected countries across Asia Pacific, and also patterns of asthma drug utilization.

Materials And Methods: : Mortality and population data were sourced from the World Health Organization's mortality database.