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Pediatric Asthma and Food Allergy
Haoquan Zhou1, Chuanlin Dai2, Jiahua Pan3
1Department of Pediatrics, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lu Jiang Road, Hefei, 230001, China.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|April 8, 2017
Summary
Food allergy is strongly linked to an increased risk of pediatric asthma. This meta-analysis of observational studies confirms a significant association between childhood food allergies and asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric asthma is a significant public health concern.
- The relationship between food allergy and asthma in children requires further clarification.
- Observational studies have explored this association with varying results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively synthesize evidence from observational studies on the link between pediatric asthma and food allergy.
- To determine the strength of association between food allergy and asthma in children.
- To provide a pooled estimate of the risk.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed in Medline and EMBASE databases.
- Two independent reviewers assessed study quality using NHLBI Quality Assessment Tools and extracted relevant data.
- Random-effects meta-analysis was employed to pool estimates from eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Eight observational studies met the inclusion criteria out of 32 identified.
- A strong association was found between food allergy and asthma in children.
- The pooled odds ratio (OR) was 2.87 (95% CI: 2.05-4.00), with statistical significance (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Food allergy is significantly associated with an elevated risk of developing asthma in children.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering food allergies in the context of pediatric respiratory health.
- Further research may explore underlying mechanisms and clinical implications.