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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
[Tobacco, infant feeding, and wheezing in the first three years of life]
A Cano Garcinuño1, I Pérez García, J García Puertas
1Centro de Salud de Villamuriel de Cerrato. Palencia. España. acanog@compalencia.org
Insights
Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure significantly increases the risk of wheezing in young children. Avoiding smoke during pregnancy is crucial for preventing childhood respiratory illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Wheezing illnesses are common in young children.
- Avoidable risk factors include tobacco smoke exposure and feeding practices.
Purpose:
- To assess the impact of prenatal and postnatal tobacco smoke exposure and feeding practices on the risk of wheezing in early childhood.
Summary:
- A population study of children born between 1998-2002 in Palencia, Spain, identified wheezing episodes in the first 3 years of life.
- No association was found between wheezing and exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months or postnatal tobacco smoke exposure.
- Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of wheezing (Hazard Ratio = 2.54).
Impact:
- Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure emerges as a primary modifiable risk factor for wheezing in the first three years of life.
- Findings highlight the importance of smoking cessation programs for pregnant women to reduce childhood respiratory disease burden.
Background:
Wheezing lower respiratory tract diseases are frequent and troublesome in young children. However, the only avoidable risk factors for them are tobacco smoke exposure and feeding practices.
Objective:
To measure the influence of these avoidable factors on the risk of wheeze in the first 3 years of life.
Methods:
We performed a population study including all the children born between January 1998 and November 2002 who were attended in the same primary health center in Palencia (Spain) from birth. Information on family history, pregnancy, delivery, and smoking was obtained soon after birth. Feeding practices were recorded on monthly visits. Wheezing episodes in the first 3 years of life were identified by a pediatrician.
Results:
Two hundred thirty-four children were included and 43 had at least one episode of wheezing. The results were adjusted by sex, prematurity, a family history of allergy, having older siblings, maternal age, and month of birth. No association was found between wheezing and exclusive breast feeding for 3 months (hazard ratio [HR] 5 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.42-1.64), or with postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke (HR 5 1.2, 95 % CI: 0.45-2.34). Tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of wheezing: HR 5 2.54 (95 % CI: 1.18-5.48).
Conclusions:
Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke is the main modifiable risk factor for wheezing diseases in the first 3 years of life.
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