Jin Yao1, Yao Zhou1, Juan Wang2, Hongmei Wu3, Hongxia Liu1, Yu Shi1, Qihong Lei1, Wen Xia1, Chunzhen Ji1, Xinmin Ye1, Qing Han1, Hui Liang1, Feng Liu4, Deyu Zhao4. 1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 2. Department of Paediatrics, Nanjing Yangzi Hospital, Nanjing, China. 3. Department of Paediatrics, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing, China. 4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China zhaodeyu98@126.com axsliu@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and sex, and asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China. METHODS: Han children aged 3-14 years were recruited. Height and weight were measured; individuals were classified into obesity, thinness and normal-weight groups on the basis of the calculated BMI. Questionnaires were used to measure prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze. Results were evaluated using the χ(2)-test, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In total 12 092 children (6,331 boys and 5,761 girls) were included. Rates of normal weight, obesity and thinness were 8915/12 092 (73.73%), 1479/12 092 (12.23%) and 1698/12 092 (14.04%), respectively. Asthma-like disease and current wheeze were reported in 2051/12 092 (16.96%) and 400/12 092 (3.31%), respectively. An increased BMI was associated with a greater risk of asthma-like disease; this relationship was strongest in girls. Current wheeze was associated positively with obesity and negatively with thinness, but only among boys. Boys had a greater risk of asthma-like disease and current wheeze than girls. CONCLUSIONS: BMI and sex were associated independently with the prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han Chinese children.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and sex, and asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China. METHODS: Han children aged 3-14 years were recruited. Height and weight were measured; individuals were classified into obesity, thinness and normal-weight groups on the basis of the calculated BMI. Questionnaires were used to measure prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze. Results were evaluated using the χ(2)-test, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In total 12 092 children (6,331 boys and 5,761 girls) were included. Rates of normal weight, obesity and thinness were 8915/12 092 (73.73%), 1479/12 092 (12.23%) and 1698/12 092 (14.04%), respectively. Asthma-like disease and current wheeze were reported in 2051/12 092 (16.96%) and 400/12 092 (3.31%), respectively. An increased BMI was associated with a greater risk of asthma-like disease; this relationship was strongest in girls. Current wheeze was associated positively with obesity and negatively with thinness, but only among boys. Boys had a greater risk of asthma-like disease and current wheeze than girls. CONCLUSIONS: BMI and sex were associated independently with the prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han Chinese children.