Effects of active tobacco smoking on the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in adolescents

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Authors: Javier Mallol, José A Castro-Rodriguez, Eliana Cortez

Published Date May 2007 Volume 2007:2(1) Pages 65 - 69

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S

Javier Mallol, José A Castro-Rodriguez, Eliana Cortez

Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Hospital CRS El Pino, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Abstract: The prevalence of asthma in adolescents markedly varies between different localities as found by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and this may be due to environmental factors. Although tobacco smoke exposure is related to an increase in the prevalence of asthma, there is lack of information on that respect in children from developing countries, where active tobacco smoking usually starts early in adolescence. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of tobacco smoking on the prevalence of asthma symptoms in a random sample of 4738 adolescents aged 13.4 ± 1.05 years who responded the ISAAC video questionnaires plus questions on tobacco smoking. The prevalence of tobacco smoking in the last 12 months was 16.2%, with significant female predominance. The persistent smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma-like symptoms ever and in the last 12 months (wheezing, wheezing with exercise, nocturnal wheezing, severe wheezing, and dry nocturnal cough) than ex-smokers and nonsmokers. More than 27% of asthma symptoms in our adolescents are attributable to active tobacco consumption (population attributable risk). This study strongly suggests that potent and more effective campaigns against tobacco smoking should be implemented in developing countries, where active tobacco smoking is dramatically increasing in children.

Keywords: asthma, prevalence, ISAAC, tobacco, video questionnaires.