INDOOR RISK FACTORS FOR ASTHMA IN CHINESE
CHILDREN: AN ISSAC PHASE II STUDY
Wong GWK1, Leung TF1,
Li ST2, Fok TF1, Zhong NS3, Chen YZ4,
Lai CKW2
Departments of 1 Paediatrics and 2 Medicine and
Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong 3 Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 4 Clinical
and Education Center for Asthma, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing,
China
Objective:
The aim of this study is to determine the indoor risk factors for
asthma in Chinese children from three cities: Hong Kong, Beijing and
Guangzhou.
Methods:
Community based random samples of schoolchildren aged 9-11 year old
from 3 Chinese cities were recruited for study using the International
Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase II protocol. Logistic regression analyses were
used to reveal risk factors associated with asthma symptoms.
Results:
A total of 11,608 subjects were invited to participate in the study
and a total of 10,902 enrolled in the study representing a participation rate
of 94%. The risk factors found
to be associated with current wheeze were gas as cooking fuel (OR: 2.13),
use of foam pillow (OR: 1.47), use of blanket vs cotton quilt (OR: 1.48). The use of gas as cooking fuel,
foam pillow and blankets were most prevalent in Hong Kong.
Conclusion:
The use of foam pillow, blankets and gas as cooking fuel are
associated with asthma symptoms in children. Higher prevalence rates of these risk factors in Hong
Kong may contribute to the higher prevalence of asthma in Hong Kong.