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Impact of adolescence and gender on asthma hospitalization: a population-based birth cohort study

Jason S Debley1, Gregory J Redding, Cathy W Critchlow

  • 1Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. jason.debley@seattlechildrens.org

Pediatric Pulmonology
|February 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Childhood asthma hospitalization rates differ by gender, with boys hospitalized more frequently until age 12, after which girls

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric epidemiology
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Public health

Background:

  • Asthma is a significant chronic respiratory disease in children, necessitating understanding of hospitalization trends.
  • Previous research indicates potential age and sex disparities in pediatric asthma, but detailed patterns require further investigation.
  • Understanding these patterns is crucial for targeted public health interventions and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of gender and age on asthma hospitalization rates in children.
  • To identify factors associated with asthma hospitalizations before and during adolescence.
  • To examine factors linked to the initial asthma hospitalization during adolescence.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based retrospective birth cohort study design was employed.
  • Data included all children born in Washington State between 1980-1985.
  • Yearly age- and gender-specific asthma hospitalization rates were calculated for ages 2-18 years.

Main Results:

  • Asthma hospitalization rates were higher for boys than girls between ages 2-12.
  • This gender disparity reversed during adolescence, with girls showing higher rates from ages 16-18.
  • Female gender was associated with increased risk of asthma hospitalization both prior to and during adolescence.

Conclusions:

  • Asthma hospitalization rates display distinct gender-based patterns throughout childhood and adolescence.
  • Hormonal changes during puberty and gender-specific environmental exposures may explain these observed differences.
  • Further research into these factors is warranted to inform prevention and management strategies.

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