Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis, Eczema, and the Association with Perinatal Anthropometric Factors in Vietnamese Children

Area of Science:

• Allergy and immunology
• Pediatric health
• Epidemiology in resource-limited settings

Background:

• Allergic diseases are a growing global concern.
• Limited research exists on causative and protective factors in resource-limited regions like Southeast Asia.
• Understanding local prevalence and risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in 6-year-old children in South-Central Vietnam.
• To identify anthropometric factors associated with these allergic conditions.
• To contribute data from a resource-limited setting to the global understanding of allergic disease etiology.

Main Methods:

• A birth cohort study followed 1,999 children born in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
• A 6-year follow-up survey collected clinical, familial, and environmental data using a standardized questionnaire.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratios for anthropometric factors.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates at age 6 were: asthma 5.1%, rhinoconjunctivitis 11.5%, and eczema 6.7%.
• Low birthweight was independently associated with an increased risk of eczema (adjusted odds ratio 5.12).
• No other significant associations between anthropometric factors and asthma or rhinoconjunctivitis were detailed in the abstract.

Conclusions:

• The study provides current prevalence data for common allergic diseases in Vietnamese children.
• Low birthweight emerges as a significant risk factor for eczema in this population.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations.