Asthma among rural Minnesota adolescents

This study examined the prevalence of and risk factors for wheezing and asthma in rural Minnesota adolescents. A survey querying about wheezing, asthma, farm residence, and other respiratory-related factors was administered to all 9th to 11th grade students (N = 13,490) in a stratified, random sample of high schools in rural Minnesota. Nearly one in 8 (12.6%) students reported ever-diagnosed asthma, and 9.2% reported current asthma. Students living on farms reported less wheezing and asthma than rural non-farm students. Obesity and smoking were associated with wheezing and asthma in all rural adolescents. Asthma rates increased with age among girls and may be largely accounted for by simultaneous increases in smoking rates. Despite the apparent protective effect of farm residence, asthma remains a significant public health issue among rural Minnesota adolescents.