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Effect of enterovirus infections on asthma in young children: A national cohort study
Author(s) -
Yeh JunJun,
Lin ChengLi,
Hsu WuHuei
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12844
Subject(s) - asthma , medicine , cohort , hazard ratio , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , cohort study , atopy , cumulative incidence , confidence interval , proportional hazards model , demography , physics , sociology , optics
Background We conducted a cohort study to determine the relationship between enterovirus ( EV ) infection and asthma. Materials and methods From the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified patients who received a new diagnosis of asthma and concurrent treatment between January 2000 and December 2011 ( EV cohort: n = 208 213; non‐ EV cohort: n = 208 213). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine and compare the adjusted hazard ratios ( aHR s) of asthma between these 2 cohorts. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was conducted to assess the differences in the cumulative incidence curves of asthma between the 2 cohorts. Results The overall aHR of asthma was 1.48‐fold higher in the EV cohort than in the non‐ EV cohort (95% confidence interval = 1.45‐1.50). The aHR of asthma was higher in the EV cohort than in the non‐ EV cohort, comprising children aged ≤5 years, regardless of sex, sociodemographic factors (urbanization level and parental occupation) or comorbidities. The risk of asthma was higher in 1‐3, 4‐6, 7‐9 and 10‐12 months (all P < .001), particularly in those with a higher frequency of admission (>5 per year). Conclusion The incidence of asthma was higher in the EV cohort than in the non‐ EV cohort, comprising children aged ≤5 years, regardless of sex, urbanization level, parental occupation or season. In particular, the risk of asthma was higher in children with a higher frequency of admission, even in the absence of atopy or other respiratory infections.