Asthma in New Zealand: myths and realities.

Asthma is a major health problem in New Zealand, generating large costs to the health services and industry. However, there are several myths concerning asthma in New Zealand. These are that it is more common and more severe in New Zealand than in the rest of the world, that it is more common in rural areas and that asthma mortality in New Zealand is the highest in the world. Using recently published data, it is now possible to show that none of these "facts" is true. In fact, asthma in New Zealand appears to have a prevalence and severity similar to those of the other major English-speaking countries and in this respect can be thought of as being first equal in the world. The relevance of correcting these myths is that they could influence future research. Previous research into the causes of asthma has sometimes focused on factors unique to New Zealand in an attempt to explain the increasing prevalence of asthma around the world. It may be more productive to direct future research towards identifying factors that the major English-speaking countries have in common.