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Published on: June 4, 2017
Parental Smoking and Risk of Allergic Conjunctivitis in Chinese Pediatric Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Huan Wang1,2, Shuchang Zhang3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Parental smoking is linked to a higher risk of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in children. Reducing parental smoking exposure may help lower the incidence of AC, highlighting the need for public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited evidence exists on the association between parental smoking and allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in Chinese children.
- Parental smoking is a potential environmental risk factor for various childhood health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental smoking and the risk of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in children.
- To provide evidence for public health strategies aimed at reducing childhood exposure to secondhand smoke.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 4249 children was conducted at Tianjin Children's Hospital.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the association between parental smoking and AC.
- Subgroup analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to ensure the stability of the findings.
Main Results:
- Parental smoking was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of AC in children (adjusted odds ratio: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03-1.34).
- Significant interactions were observed between parental smoking and mode of delivery/multiple pregnancies regarding AC risk.
- Subgroup analyses for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism did not reveal significant interactions.
Conclusions:
- Parental smoking is associated with an increased risk of incident allergic conjunctivitis in children.
- Reducing parental smoking exposure is crucial for lowering the risk of AC in pediatric populations.
- Public health interventions targeting secondhand smoke reduction are essential for protecting children's eye health.
Purpose:
Evidence on the link between parental smoking and allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is limited, particularly in Chinese children. This study aimed to examine the association between parental smoking and the risk of AC in children.
Patients And Methods:
The cross-sectional study was conducted in the ophthalmology department at Tianjin Children's Hospital from 2021 to 2022. We used logistic regression to explore the association between parental smoking and AC. The stability of the results was ensured using subgroup analysis and propensity score matching (PSM).
Results:
A total of 4249 participants met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. After adjusting for all covariates, parental smoking was significantly associated with AC. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.17 (1.03-1.34). Significant interactions were observed for mode of delivery and multiple pregnancies, in relation to the prediction of AC (P < 0.05). Further exploratory subgroup analyses in children with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism revealed no significant interactions (all P values for interaction were > 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounders using PSM, the results remained stable.
Conclusion:
This cross-sectional study showed that influence of inappropriate parental smoking on the risk of incident AC. Parental smoking was associated with increased risk of AC in children. Reducing parental smoking may help lower this risk. These findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke.
