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Published on: August 7, 2017

Risk of physician-diagnosed asthma in the first 6 years of life

Natalia Dik1, Robert B Tate, Jure Manfreda

  • 1University of Manitoba, Department of Medicine, 810 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3A 1R8.

Chest
|October 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy complications, birth factors, and respiratory infections significantly impact childhood asthma risk. Having more siblings with allergies may offer protection against asthma development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Epidemiology
  • Perinatal Health

Background:

  • Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in children.
  • Factors influencing early-life asthma development require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of pregnancy/labor complications, birth characteristics, and infections on childhood asthma incidence.
  • To identify risk and protective factors for asthma in the first six years of life.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 170,960 children born in Manitoba, Canada (1980-1990) was conducted.
  • Data on physician contacts and health insurance records were used to track asthma diagnosis up to age 6.
  • Maternal history, birth details, and familial exposures were collected.

Main Results:

  • Asthma diagnosed in 14.1% of children by age 6.
  • Increased asthma risk observed in boys, those with allergic family history, urban residents, low birth weight, premature birth, and specific congenital abnormalities.
  • Maternal age, respiratory infections (upper and lower), and familial respiratory infections were associated with higher asthma risk; more siblings with allergies showed a protective effect.

Conclusions:

  • Intrauterine and labor conditions, alongside genetic factors, are key determinants of childhood asthma.
  • Exposure to respiratory tract infections significantly increases asthma risk.
  • The protective effect of having more siblings is not fully explained by familial allergy history.
Abstract

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