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Possible association between passive smoking and lower exhaled nitric oxide in asthmatic children

Timothy J Warke1, Vivienne Mairs, Patrick S Fitch

  • 1Department of Child Health, The Queen's University of Belfast Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

Archives of Environmental Health
|November 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is linked to lower exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in children with asthma. This finding suggests ETS should be considered when interpreting eNO in pediatric asthmatics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Environmental Health
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels are reduced by smoking in adults.
  • Previous research has not established a link between passive environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and eNO levels in children.
  • Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition in childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in asthmatic children.
  • To compare eNO levels in asthmatic children with and without ETS exposure.
  • To determine if ETS affects eNO levels in nonasthmatic children.

Main Methods:

  • Recruitment of 174 asthmatic children and 79 nonasthmatic children (ages 5-14).
  • Assessment of ETS exposure through questionnaires.
  • Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in all participants.

Main Results:

  • Asthmatic children exhibited higher eNO levels than nonasthmatic children (p=0.04).
  • Asthmatic children exposed to ETS showed significantly lower eNO levels compared to unexposed asthmatic children (p=0.005).
  • ETS exposure did not significantly alter eNO levels in nonasthmatic children (p=0.4).

Conclusions:

  • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is associated with reduced exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in children with asthma.
  • Physicians should consider ETS exposure when interpreting eNO levels in pediatric asthma patients.
  • Further research is recommended to fully understand the impact of ETS on eNO levels in children.

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