Bronchial asthma: do boys or girls have the highest incidence?

The aim of the study was to assess the gender related prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in schoolchildren. The survey was performed using standardized ISAAC questionnaire in two age groups: 6-7 yr. (n = 2281; girls 49.7%) and 13-14 yr. (n = 4849; girls 49.8%). It was revealed that in older group the prevalence of ever diagnosed asthma was lower in girls than in boys (2.0% versus 3.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.58; p = 0.004). But the prevalence of symptoms: wheeze ever (OR = 1.16; p = 0.056), current wheeze (last 12 mo) (OR = 1.26; p = 0.029), current exercise wheeze (OR = 1.40; p = 0.0008), current night cough (OR = 1.67; p = 0.0001) were higher in girls than in boys. However, in younger group of schoolchildren the prevalence of ever diagnosed asthma and asthma symptoms were higher in boys (5.1% male versus 3.5% female). The girls in comparison to boys revealed lower risk of ever asthma diagnosis (OR = 0.66; p = 0.056) and symptoms: wheeze ever (OR = 0.63; p = 0.0001), current wheeze (OR = 0.69; p = 0.003), current exercise wheeze (OR = 0.59; p = 0.008) and current night cough (OR = 0.70; p = 0.0003).