The authors assessed the prevalence of bronchial asthma in 8458 18-year-old and older inhabitants of an economic area in Prague 8. The population of the area up to December 31, 1987 was 90,458 adults. The health communities were selected in a random way to comprise the central as well as peripheral parts of Prague 8. By means of questionnaires information was assembled from 70.9% of the respondents and after supplementation of data by various doctors the scope of information was 89.9% (7605/8458). For detailed examination 902 subjects were selected with "confirmed" and suspect symptoms of asthma. The anamnestic data were analyzed and pulmonary ventilation was examined (flow-volume), and depending on indication, also the provocation or bronchodilatation inhalation test, skin tests, and total IgE. The cumulative prevalence of bronchial asthma was 2.3% +/- 0.3% (174/7605). The highest prevalence values were in subjects under 20 years--3.5% and under 30 years--3.6%. The contemporary prevalence was 2.0% +/- 0.3% (152/7605). Nonatopic asthma was recorded in 54%, atopic asthma in 46% of the subjects.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Asthma /epidemiology/; Czechoslovakia /epidemiology/; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence