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Factors associated with asthma severity in children: a case-control study

Ana Paula Mendes1, Linjie Zhang, Sílvio O M Prietsch

  • 1Physical Therapy Course, University of Anhanguera, Rio Grande, Brazil.

The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
|February 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood asthma is linked to early onset, low paternal education, and low income. Fruit consumption may protect against severe asthma in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Epidemiology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Childhood asthma is a significant public health concern.
  • Identifying risk and protective factors for persistent childhood asthma is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors associated with the severity of childhood asthma.
  • To identify risk factors for persistent asthma in Brazilian children.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted with 171 Brazilian children (2-12 years) diagnosed with asthma.
  • Children were categorized into persistent asthma (cases) and intermittent asthma (controls).
  • Data were collected via parental interviews, and logistic regression was used to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Early disease onset (before 2 years), low paternal education (<9 years), and low household income (≤1 minimum wage) were independent risk factors for persistent asthma.
  • Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for these factors were 2.56, 2.49, and 4.36, respectively.
  • Regular fruit consumption in the past 30 days showed an inverse association with persistent asthma (adjusted OR: 0.19).

Conclusions:

  • Early onset, low paternal education, and low household income are significant risk factors for persistent childhood asthma.
  • Regular fruit consumption may act as a protective factor against more severe asthma presentations in children.
  • These findings highlight the importance of socioeconomic and dietary factors in childhood asthma severity.
Abstract

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