Prevalence of Asthma and Its Associating Environmental Factors among 6–12-Year-Old Schoolchildren in a Metropolitan Environment—A Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire-Based Study

Dávid Molnár, Gabriella Gálffy, Alpár Horváth, Gábor Tomisa, Gábor Katona, Andor Hirschberg, Györgyi Mezei and Monika Sultész
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Dávid Molnár: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, 58 Tűzoltó Street, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
Gabriella Gálffy: Pest County Pulmonology Hospital, Törökbálint, 70 Munkácsy Mihály Street, H-2045 Torokbalint, Hungary
Alpár Horváth: Pest County Pulmonology Hospital, Törökbálint, 70 Munkácsy Mihály Street, H-2045 Torokbalint, Hungary
Gábor Tomisa: Medical Department of Chiesi Hungary Ltd., 2 Dunavirág Street, H-1138 Budapest, Hungary
Gábor Katona: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, 86 Üllői Street, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
Andor Hirschberg: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Saint John’s Hospital, 1-3 Diós árok Street, H-1125 Budapest, Hungary
Györgyi Mezei: 1st Department of Paediatrics, Division of Allergo-Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, 53–54 Bókay János Street, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
Monika Sultész: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, 86 Üllői Street, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and its associating environmental factors within a 6–12-year-old population. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in primary schools located in the capital of Hungary; 3836 eligible parent-reported questionnaires were evaluated. Besides the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase three core questions for asthma, the survey also assessed various potential risk factors. We introduced the umbrella term cumulative asthma as the union of physician-diagnosed asthma and current wheezing to estimate the lifetime prevalence of asthma. Current wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma showed a frequency of 9.5% and 6.3%, respectively. They contributed to a cumulative asthma prevalence of 12.6% among the sampled population, with a girl-boy percentage of 37.4% to 62.6%. Air-pollution and weedy areas were associated with greater risk for asthma, while a suburban residence showed lesser odds. Indoor smoking, visible mold, and keeping a dog were defined as risk factors for asthma, while the presence of plants in the bedroom and pet rodents were associated with lower odds ratios. The consumption of fast food, beverages containing additives and margarine were significantly higher in asthmatics, while we found frequent sport activity and cereal intake associated with lower odds ratios for asthma. In this urban environment, we identified an increased asthma prevalence compared to some previously published studies, but the cross-sectional design and the different methodology did not permit us to draw timeframe-dependent conclusions.

Keywords: asthma; schoolchildren; prevalence; nutrition; environment; lifestyle; atopy; allergy; east-central Europe; ISAAC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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