OBJECTIVES: We studied the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and asthma symptoms, severity of asthma, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine. METHODS: We studied 1232 men and women born between 1974 and 1978 in a semirural area of Chile. We assessed asthma symptoms with a standardized questionnaire, atopy with a skin-prick test to 8 allergens, and BHR to methacholine with the tidal breathing method. SES was derived from several indicators: education, occupation, completion of a welfare form, belongings, housing, number of siblings, and overcrowding. RESULTS: Those with fewer belongings had more asthma symptoms. Those who had higher education and those who owned cars had fewer asthma symptoms and BHR. Overcrowding was negatively related to atopy, atopy with asthma symptoms, and BHR. Higher education and noncompletion of a welfare form were risk factors for atopy. CONCLUSION: The strength and direction of the association between asthma and SES depended on what definition of asthma was analyzed. Asthma symptoms were more common among poor people. There was some support for the hygiene hypothesis, as overcrowding was associated with less wheezing with atopy, less atopy, and less BHR.
OBJECTIVES: We studied the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and asthma symptoms, severity of asthma, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine. METHODS: We studied 1232 men and women born between 1974 and 1978 in a semirural area of Chile. We assessed asthma symptoms with a standardized questionnaire, atopy with a skin-prick test to 8 allergens, and BHR to methacholine with the tidal breathing method. SES was derived from several indicators: education, occupation, completion of a welfare form, belongings, housing, number of siblings, and overcrowding. RESULTS: Those with fewer belongings had more asthma symptoms. Those who had higher education and those who owned cars had fewer asthma symptoms and BHR. Overcrowding was negatively related to atopy, atopy with asthma symptoms, and BHR. Higher education and noncompletion of a welfare form were risk factors for atopy. CONCLUSION: The strength and direction of the association between asthma and SES depended on what definition of asthma was analyzed. Asthma symptoms were more common among poor people. There was some support for the hygiene hypothesis, as overcrowding was associated with less wheezing with atopy, less atopy, and less BHR.
Authors: Rosângela da Costa Lima; Cesar G Victora; Ana Maria B Menezes; Fernando C Barros Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-11 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Andrea J Apter; Ray C Boston; Maureen George; A Lorraine Norfleet; Thomas Tenhave; James C Coyne; Kathleen Birck; Susan T Reisine; Andrew J Cucchiara; Harold I Feldman Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Paula Lozano; Lou C Grothaus; Jonathan A Finkelstein; Julia Hecht; Harold J Farber; Tracy A Lieu Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Benoît Lévesque; Marc Rhainds; Pierre Ernst; Anne-Marie Grenier; Tom Kosatsky; Nathalie Audet; Pierre Lajoie Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2004 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Neil T Coffee; Tony Lockwood; Graeme Hugo; Catherine Paquet; Natasha J Howard; Mark Daniel Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2013-04-15 Impact factor: 3.918
Authors: Heather L Greenwood; Nancy Edwards; Amandah Hoogbruin; Eulalia K Kahwa; Okeyo N Odhiambo; Jack A Buong Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2011-07-12 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Eulalia K Kahwa; Novie O Younger; Yvonne B Wint; Norman K Waldron; Hermi H Hewitt; Jennifer M Knight-Madden; Kay A Bailey; Nancy C Edwards; Laurel R Talabere; Karen N Lewis-Bell Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2010-04-03 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: James F Potts; Roberto J Rona; Manuel J Oyarzun; Hugo Amigo; Patricia Bustos Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2007-07-31 Impact factor: 9.308