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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Low birth weight and environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of wheezing in adolescents: a retrospective cohort study

Authors: Meng-Hung Lin, James L Caffrey, Yu-Sheng Lin, Pau-Chung Chen, Ching-Chun Lin, Wen-Chao Ho, Trong-Neng Wu, Ruey-Shiung Lin

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Background

Low birth weight (LBW) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure are each associated with wheezing in children. This study was designed to examine the combined association of LBW and ETS with wheezing.

Methods

A retrospective birth cohort analysis linked with a national survey of allergic disorders among 1,018,031 junior high school students in Taiwan (1995–1996) was analyzed. The reported incidence of wheezing (yes or no) and ETS exposure (4 categories: 0, 1–20, 21–40 and greater than or equal to 41 household cigarettes per day) were obtained from validated questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of interest.

Results

There were 844,003 (83%) subjects analyzed after the exclusion criteria. LBW was associated with an increased risk of reporting ever wheezing (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.16), current wheezing (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00–1.20) and wheezing with exercise (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02–1.21) within the smoke-free cohort. Higher ETS exposure correlated to a higher risk of wheezing (ever, current and with exercise). With ETS exposure, adolescents from the lowest birth weight cohorts were more likely to report wheezing (ever, current and with exercise).

Conclusions

ETS and LBW each has been related to increasing public health risk for respiratory symptoms among adolescents. Furthermore, LBW may aggravate the risk among those exposed to ETS. LBW, ETS and associated respiratory impairments may deserve special attention as part of a comprehensive environmental health risk assessment directed toward prevention and intervention.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/688/prepub

Title: Low birth weight and environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of wheezing in adolescents: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Meng-Hung Lin
James L Caffrey
Yu-Sheng Lin
Pau-Chung Chen
Ching-Chun Lin
Wen-Chao Ho
Trong-Neng Wu
Ruey-Shiung Lin
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-688

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Low birth weight and environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of wheezing in adolescents: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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