BACKGROUND: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been reported as a significant risk factor for childhood asthma. Among adults, personal smoking is a major cause of respiratory symptoms and diseases. The effects of these exposures on the prevalence of asthma and wheeze among teenagers are less well known. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the independent and combined effects of ETS and personal smoking on the prevalence of asthma and wheeze in teenagers. METHODS: A longitudinal study of asthma and allergic diseases in schoolchildren has been in progress in Northern Sweden since 1996. All children aged 7-8 years in three municipalities were invited and 3430 (97%) participants have been followed by annual questionnaires. At the age 16-17 years, 82% of the initial participants took part in the 2005 survey. RESULTS: Prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, ever wheeze and current wheeze was significantly higher among those exposed to maternal ETS and among daily smokers. In multivariate analyses, maternal ETS was a significant risk factor for physician-diagnosed asthma and ever wheeze (OR 1.3-1.5) and personal daily smoking for current wheeze (OR 2.0). ORs for asthma and ever wheeze were highest among daily smokers who were also exposed to maternal ETS with ORs of 1.7 and 2.5, respectively. A significant dose-response association between number of cigarettes/day and the prevalence of wheeze was also found. CONCLUSIONS: Both ETS and personal smoking were significantly related to asthma and wheeze in teenagers. Maternal ETS exposure was associated with lifetime symptoms, but daily smoking among the teenagers was more strongly related to current symptoms.
BACKGROUND: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been reported as a significant risk factor for childhood asthma. Among adults, personal smoking is a major cause of respiratory symptoms and diseases. The effects of these exposures on the prevalence of asthma and wheeze among teenagers are less well known. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the independent and combined effects of ETS and personal smoking on the prevalence of asthma and wheeze in teenagers. METHODS: A longitudinal study of asthma and allergic diseases in schoolchildren has been in progress in Northern Sweden since 1996. All children aged 7-8 years in three municipalities were invited and 3430 (97%) participants have been followed by annual questionnaires. At the age 16-17 years, 82% of the initial participants took part in the 2005 survey. RESULTS: Prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, ever wheeze and current wheeze was significantly higher among those exposed to maternal ETS and among daily smokers. In multivariate analyses, maternal ETS was a significant risk factor for physician-diagnosed asthma and ever wheeze (OR 1.3-1.5) and personal daily smoking for current wheeze (OR 2.0). ORs for asthma and ever wheeze were highest among daily smokers who were also exposed to maternal ETS with ORs of 1.7 and 2.5, respectively. A significant dose-response association between number of cigarettes/day and the prevalence of wheeze was also found. CONCLUSIONS: Both ETS and personal smoking were significantly related to asthma and wheeze in teenagers. Maternal ETS exposure was associated with lifetime symptoms, but daily smoking among the teenagers was more strongly related to current symptoms.
Authors: Jonathan M Feldman; Edna Acosta Pérez; Glorisa Canino; Elizabeth L McQuaid; Renee D Goodwin; Alexander N Ortega Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Martin Andersson; Linnea Hedman; Gunnar Nordberg; Bertil Forsberg; Kåre Eriksson; Eva Rönmark Journal: Environ Health Date: 2015-04-15 Impact factor: 5.984
Authors: Dharini Maheswaran; Yiye Zeng; Moira Chan-Yeung; James Scott; Alvaro Osornio-Vargas; Allan B Becker; Anita L Kozyrskyj Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-06-06 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Tae-Woong Ha; Hae-Un Jung; Dong Jun Kim; Eun Ju Baek; Won Jun Lee; Ji Eun Lim; Han Kyul Kim; Ji-One Kang; Bermseok Oh Journal: Front Genet Date: 2021-05-20 Impact factor: 4.599
Authors: Martin Andersson; Helena Backman; Gunnar Nordberg; Annika Hagenbjörk; Linnea Hedman; Kåre Eriksson; Bertil Forsberg; Eva Rönmark Journal: Environ Health Date: 2018-04-11 Impact factor: 5.984