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Influence of passive smoking on admissions for respiratory illness in early childhood
Insights
Secondhand smoke exposure in early childhood significantly increases the risk of inpatient admissions for respiratory illness. Children in households with heavy smoking face a nearly double risk of severe respiratory conditions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood respiratory illnesses are a significant public health concern.
- Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a known risk factor for various health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between passive smoking and inpatient admissions for respiratory illness in young children.
- To quantify the risk of respiratory illness associated with different levels of household smoke exposure.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 1058 children in Shanghai, born in 1981.
- Correlation and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between passive smoking and respiratory admissions.
- Data collected on family smoking habits, birth weight, feeding type, and socioeconomic factors.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between daily cigarette consumption by family members and respiratory illness admission rates.
- Children in families smoking 10+ cigarettes/day had a relative risk of 1.80 for a first respiratory illness episode.
- The association remained significant after adjusting for birth weight, feeding type, father's education, home size, and adult chronic respiratory disease.
Conclusions:
- Exposure to household cigarette smoke in early life is an independent risk factor for severe respiratory illness in children.
- Reducing secondhand smoke exposure in homes can mitigate the risk of childhood respiratory diseases.
- Public health initiatives should focus on preventing childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
Abstract:
An association was sought between passive smoking and inpatient admissions for respiratory illness in 1058 children born between 1 June and 31 December 1981 and living in the neighborhoods of Nan-Jing Western Road and Yan-An Western Road in Jing-An District, Shanghai. The admission rate for first episodes of respiratory illness was positively correlated with the total daily cigarette consumption of family members during the children's first 18 months of life. The relative risk of developing a first episode of respiratory illness was 1.80 for children living in families including people who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day compared with those living in non-smoking families. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the effect of passive smoking on inpatient admission for respiratory illness was independent of the child's birth weight, type of feeding, father's education, size of the home, and chronic respiratory disease among adults in the family. The adjusted odds ratios compared with the non-smoking group were 1.17 in families smoking 1.9 cigarettes daily and 1.89 in families smoking 10 or more cigarettes daily. These data suggest that exposure to household cigarette smoke of children in early life increases the risk of severe respiratory illness.