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Cross‐sectional survey of risk factors for asthma in 6–7‐year‐old children in New Zealand: International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood Phase Three
Author(s) -
Mitchell Edwin A,
Stewart Alistair W,
Clayton Tadd,
Asher M Innes,
Ellwood Phillipa,
Mackay Richard,
Moyes Christopher,
Pattemore Phillip K,
Pearce Neil
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2009.01504.x
Subject(s) - wheeze , medicine , asthma , odds ratio , pediatrics , cross sectional study , respiratory sounds , confidence interval , allergy , risk factor , environmental health , demography , immunology , pathology , sociology
Aim: To identify risk factors for asthma in primary school‐aged children in New Zealand. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey of 10 873 6–7‐year‐old children in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Christchurch (a response rate of 85.2%). A questionnaire was completed by the parent or care giver. Results: 22.2% of children wheezed in the last 12 months (current wheeze). Maori children were at greater risk of current wheeze compared with European children (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 1.37; 95% confidence interval = 1.18–1.59). Antibiotics and paracetamol used in the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.78 (1.56–2.04) and adjOR = 1.31 (1.06–1.61), respectively). Watching television for 5 or more hours per day was associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.44 (1.13–1.83)). Milk and egg consumption in the last 12 months was associated with a reduced risk of current wheeze. Conclusions: This study has identified risk factors for asthma in children aged 6–7 years, although causal pathways cannot be established. These associations have important public health implications if causal.