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Published on: August 7, 2017

Early environmental determinants of asthma risk in a high-risk birth cohort

Moira Chan-Yeung1, Richard G Hegele, Helen Dimich-Ward

  • 1Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease Unit, Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. myeung@interchange.ubc.ca

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|February 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Early life environmental exposures, like dog ownership and viral infections, significantly impact childhood asthma risk. Maternal smoking appears protective, highlighting a critical window for asthma prevention interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Allergy
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Early life environmental exposures are critical determinants of childhood asthma development.
  • Understanding these exposures is key for effective primary prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify environmental risk factors for asthma at age 7 in a high-risk cohort.
  • To evaluate the impact of early-life exposures versus later exposures on asthma development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study with repeated environmental exposure assessments (indoor, viral) from birth to age 7.
  • Clinical assessments including allergy skin tests and logistic regression analysis for risk factor identification.
  • Analysis adjusted for intervention group assignment and baseline factors.

Main Results:

  • Dog ownership and respiratory syncytial virus infection in year 1 were significant asthma risk factors.
  • Maternal smoking during early life and at age 7 was associated with a reduced risk of asthma.
  • Indoor environmental exposures at age 7 were not linked to asthma, emphasizing early-life importance.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life environmental exposures, particularly in the first year, are more influential than later exposures in determining childhood asthma.
  • A critical 'window of opportunity' exists in early life for asthma prevention interventions.
  • Factors like dog ownership and viral infections increase risk, while maternal smoking may be protective.

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