Trends in the age of diagnosis of childhood asthma

Exposure to per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and respiratory and skin effects in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite being previously banned due to long-term health effects, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remain widespread in the environment, accumulating in animals and humans. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores associations between exposure to PFAS and asthma onset, wheezing, atopic dermatitis, and eczema in children and adolescents while addressing exposure timing and sex-specific differences. After comprehensive search conducted in several databases, including risk of bias, study heterogeneity, and quality of evidence evaluation, the review included 28 observational studies, most with low risk of bias in all domains. PFAS exposure was not significantly associated with asthma onset (OR:1.03, CI:0.99;1.07), but revealed significantly lower association in the prenatal period (OR:0.97, CI:0.94;0.99), higher in the postnatal period (OR:1.20, CI:1.07;1.35), and no differences among sexes. PFAS exposure (mainly prenatal) was associated with 4 % significantly lower odds of wheezing (OR:0.96, CI:0.94;0.98), higher in girls (OR:0.94, CI:0.91;0.98) than in boys (OR:0.97, CI:0.94;1.00). No significant impact was noted on atopic dermatitis (OR:1.04, CI:0.94;1.16), while PFAS exposure was associated with 8 % significantly lower eczema odds (OR:0.92, CI:0.89;0.96). Evidence was insufficient to perform sensitivity analyses on atopic dermatitis and eczema. Additional research is needed on the impact of synergistic and co-exposure to other pollutants on children and adolescents' health.

Operative Timing for Elective Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for CPAM and Sequestration: A NSQIP-Pediatric Analysis 2017-2021

BACKGROUND

There is limited literature on optimal timing for elective thoracoscopic lobectomy for congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) and sequestration. Using NSQIP-P, we aim to assess optimal operative timing for elective thoracoscopic lobectomy for CPAM and sequestration.

METHODS

Data from the NSQIP-Pediatric registry was used to evaluate elective thoracoscopic lobectomy patients from 2017 to 2021 diagnosed with congenital pulmonary airway malformation or sequestration. Open lobectomy, ventilator dependent, oxygen dependent, and patients <1 month old were excluded. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared for age cohorts (in months): 1-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-24, and 24+.

RESULTS

There were 717 patients identified. Operative time significantly increased with age from 1 to 3 months to the 24+ month cohort (164.9 min-221.7 min, p = 0.014). Rates of conversion to open were 7.4% vs 21.8%, p = 0.181 in these age groups, respectively. Though not statistically significant, 14.8% of patients at 1-3 months had transfusion events reported compared to 6.4% at 3-6 months and 1.3% at 24+ months (p = 0.067). There were no significant differences between age groups for 30-day unplanned readmission, reoperation, non-transfusion complications, all complications, or mortality.

CONCLUSION

Optimal surgical timing for thoracoscopic lobectomy for CPAM and sequestration is complex. Surgery at younger ages is associated with significantly shorter operative times; however, a greater powered study is needed to further assess the conversion to open rate in patients >3 months and the bleeding/transfusion rate in patients <3 months of age.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE (I-V)

Level III.

Addition of long-acting beta-agonists to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma in preschool children: A systematic review

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) are essential in asthma management, but the guidelines for treatment in preschool children remain heterogeneous worldwide. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of LABA + ICS therapy in asthmatic children under six years. We searched four databases, identifying six eligible studies (n = 1415 preschoolers), and in all the LABA used was salmeterol. Due to high heterogeneity, quantitative analysis was not feasible. Three before-and-after studies demonstrated significant reductions in unscheduled visits and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbations with LABA + ICS. One RCT showed fewer exacerbations in the LABA + ICS group compared to ICS alone. Night-time awakenings decreased significantly in two studies but not in one RCT. Improvements in lung function using impulse oscillometry and FeNO levels were noted with LABA+ICS in one RCT. No significant adverse effects were reported. Despite positive findings, high-quality trials are needed to confirm these results, particularly using formoterol as LABA, aligning with the recommendations. Further research is imperative to optimize asthma management in preschool children.

Frequency of Severe Asthma and Its Clinical Phenotypes at the Asthma Clinic in One of the Largest Sudanese Tertiary Pediatric Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Outpatient-Based Study

Background

Asthma is one of the most common non-communicable diseases. Childhood asthma has been increasing in Sudan, with a 13-16% prevalence among Khartoum school children. To achieve and maintain good asthma control, proper diagnosis, assessment of severity, and appropriate medication administration are crucial, with phenotyping being a key factor in determining patients' specific treatment.

Objective

To study the frequency of severe asthma and the distribution of its different phenotypes and to investigate associations between age and gender and different phenotypes of asthma.

Methodology

This descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the Asthma Clinic of Mohamed Al-Amin Hamid Pediatrics Hospital. It included 229 patients who were presented to the clinic from September 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected from the patients and/or their caregivers using a modified validated standard questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.

Results

In this study of 229 participants, 14.4% had severe asthma, with 44.5% and 41% exhibiting mild and moderate asthma, respectively. Most were effectively managed in steps 2 or 3. The cohort, primarily aged 5 or younger (40.2%) with a male majority (62%), showed a mean diagnosis age of 2.9 ± 2.8 years. Impressively, 90% maintained well-controlled asthma. Within severe asthma cases (87% atopic), 39.4% represented a severe allergic asthma phenotype. Elevated eosinophil counts were noted in 45.5% (serum) and 78.8% (sputum cytology), while 57.6% had normal serum IgE levels. The predominant symptom pattern in severe asthma was episodic multi-trigger wheezing (48.5%). Age and gender displayed no significant association with severe asthma phenotype.

Conclusion

This study reveals a concerning rise in childhood asthma prevalence in Sudan, emphasizing the importance of tailored treatment strategies. Severe asthma, characterized by atopic eosinophilic involvement, necessitates targeted interventions in pediatric asthma care for specific phenotypes.

Is asthma in children still increasing? 20-year prevalence trends in northern Sweden

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we describe prevalence trends of asthma and investigate the association with asthma symptoms, use of asthma medication, and asthma severity among 8-year-old children in Norrbotten, Sweden in 1996, 2006, and 2017.

METHODS

Within the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies, three pediatric cohorts were recruited in 1996, 2006, and 2017 respectively. Identical methods were used; all children in first and second grade (median age 8 years) in three municipalities were invited to a parental questionnaire survey, completed by n = 3430 in 1996 (97% participation), n = 2585 in 2006 (96%), and n = 2785 in 2017 (91%). The questionnaire included questions about respiratory symptoms and diagnosis, treatment, and severity of asthma.

RESULTS

The prevalence of wheezing was stable during the study, 10.1% in 1996; 10.8% in 2006; and 10.3% in 2017, p = .621, while physician-diagnosed asthma increased: 5.7%, 7.4%, and 12.2%, p < .001. The use of asthma medication in the last 12 months increased: 7.1%, 8.7%, and 11.5%, p < .001. Among children diagnosed with asthma, the prevalence of asthma symptoms, the impact on daily life, and severe asthma decreased, while the use of inhaled corticosteroids increased from 1996 until 2017.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of wheezing was stable among 8-year-old in this area from 1996 to 2017, while the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma doubled but without an increase in asthma morbidity. The increase of physician-diagnosed asthma without a coincident increase in asthma morbidity can partly be explained by more and earlier diagnosis among those with mild asthma.

Decreasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Swedish schoolchildren: three repeated population-based surveys

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased over several decades and now affects about one-fifth of all children in high-income countries (HICs). While the increase continues in lower-income countries, the prevalence of AD might have reached a plateau in HICs.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate trends in the prevalence of AD and atopic comorbidity in schoolchildren in Sweden.

METHODS

The study population consisted of three cohorts of children (median age 8 years) in Norrbotten, Sweden, for 1996 (n = 3430), 2006 (n = 2585) and 2017 (n = 2785). An identical questionnaire that included questions from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol was used in all three cohorts. Trends in AD prevalence were estimated, as well as trends in atopic comorbidity. AD prevalence was estimated both according to the ISAAC definition of AD and by adding the reported diagnosis by a physician (D-AD).

RESULTS

The prevalence of AD decreased in the last decade, from 22.8% (1996) and 21.3% (2006) to 16.3% (2017; P < 0.001). The prevalence of D-AD was lower, but the same pattern of decrease was seen, from 9.3% (1996) and 9.4% (2006) to 5.7% (2017; P < 0.001). In all three cohorts, AD was more common among girls than boys (18.9% vs. 13.8% in 2017; P < 0.001). Children from the mountain inlands had a higher prevalence of AD than children from coastal cities (22.0% vs. 15.1% in 2017; P < 0.001). In comparing D-AD, there were no significant differences between the sexes or between inland or coastal living. Concomitant asthma increased over the years from 12.2% (1996) to 15.8% (2006) to 23.0% (2017; P < 0.001). Concomitant allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitization increased from 1996 (15.0% and 27.5%) to 2006 (24.7% and 49.5%) but then levelled off until 2017 (21.0% and 46.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of AD among schoolchildren in Sweden decreased over the study period, whereas atopic comorbidity among children with AD increased. Although a decrease was seen, AD is still common and the increase in atopic comorbidity among children with AD, especially the increase in asthma, is concerning.

Perioperative Care of the Pediatric Patient and an Algorithm for the Treatment of Intraoperative Bronchospasm

Asthma remains a common comorbid condition in patients presenting for anesthetic care. As a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway, asthma is known to increase the risk of intraoperative bronchospasm. As the incidence and severity of asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions that alter airway reactivity is increasing, a greater number of patients at risk for perioperative bronchospasm are presenting for anesthetic care. As bronchospasm remains one of the more common intraoperative adverse events, recognizing and mitigating preoperative risk factors and having a pre-determined treatment algorithm for acute events are essential to ensuring effective resolution of this intraoperative emergency. The following article reviews the perioperative care of pediatric patients with asthma, discusses modifiable risk factors for intraoperative bronchospasm, and outlines the differential diagnosis of intraoperative wheezing. Additionally, a treatment algorithm for intraoperative bronchospasm is suggested.

Exposure to Disinfectants and Cleaning Products and Respiratory Health of Workers and Children in Daycares: The CRESPI Cohort Protocol

Although cleaning tasks are frequently performed in daycare, no study has focused on exposures in daycares in relation to respiratory health. The CRESPI cohort is an epidemiological study among workers (n~320) and children (n~540) attending daycares. The purpose is to examine the impact of daycare exposures to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCP) on the respiratory health of workers and children. A sample of 108 randomly selected daycares in the region of Paris has been visited to collect settled dust to analyze semi-volatile organic compounds and microbiota, as well as sample indoor air to analyze aldehydes and volatile organic compounds. Innovative tools (smartphone applications) are used to scan DCP barcodes in daycare and inform their use; a database then matches the barcodes with the products' compositions. At baseline, workers/parents completed a standardized questionnaire, collecting information on DCP used at home, respiratory health, and potential confounders. Follow-up regarding children's respiratory health (monthly report through a smartphone application and biannual questionnaires) is ongoing until the end of 2023. Associations between DCP exposures and the respiratory health of workers/children will be evaluated. By identifying specific environments or DCP substances associated with the adverse respiratory health of workers and children, this longitudinal study will contribute to the improvement of preventive measures.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with single or co-detected rhinovirus-associated acute respiratory infection in Middle Tennessee

BACKGROUND

Rhinovirus (RV) is one of the most common etiologic agents of acute respiratory infection (ARI), which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young children. The clinical significance of RV co-detection with other respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), remains unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with ARI-associated RV-only detection and those with RV co-detection-with an emphasis on RV/RSV co-detection.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective viral surveillance study (11/2015-7/2016) in Nashville, Tennessee. Children < 18 years old who presented to the emergency department (ED) or were hospitalized with fever and/or respiratory symptoms of < 14 days duration were eligible if they resided in one of nine counties in Middle Tennessee. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected by parental interviews and medical chart abstractions. Nasal and/or throat specimens were collected and tested for RV, RSV, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza 1-4, and influenza A-C using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with RV-only detection and those with RV co-detection using Pearson's χ² test for categorical variables and the two-sample t-test with unequal variances for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Of 1250 children, 904 (72.3%) were virus-positive. RV was the most common virus (n = 406; 44.9%), followed by RSV (n = 207; 19.3%). Of 406 children with RV, 289 (71.2%) had RV-only detection, and 117 (28.8%) had RV co-detection. The most common virus co-detected with RV was RSV (n = 43; 36.8%). Children with RV co-detection were less likely than those with RV-only detection to be diagnosed with asthma or reactive airway disease both in the ED and in-hospital. We did not identify differences in hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, supplemental oxygen use, or length of stay between children with RV-only detection and those with RV co-detection.

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence that RV co-detection was associated with poorer outcomes. However, the clinical significance of RV co-detection is heterogeneous and varies by virus pair and age group. Future studies of RV co-detection should incorporate analyses of RV/non-RV pairs and include age as a key covariate of RV contribution to clinical manifestations and infection outcomes.

Outdoor air pollution exposure and the risk of asthma and wheezing in the offspring

According to the "fetal origin of disease" hypothesis, air pollution exposure in pregnancy may play an important role in stimulating the early programming of asthma and allergies. However, previous studies reported inconsistent findings. The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide higher grade evidence and quantitatively analyze the link between prenatal exposure to outdoor air pollutants and childhood asthma and wheezing. Databases (Web of Science and PubMed) were extensively searched for articles published from the start of the database to September 15, 2021. Either random-effect model or fixed-effect model was used to estimate the disease-specific relative risks (RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the association. Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Score (NOS) was used to assess the quality of studies. This study finally included 13 cohort studies, and the findings showed that NO₂ and SO₂ exposure during entire pregnancy was significantly associated with wheezing (RR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.000, 1.066) and asthma (RR = 1.114, 95% CI: 1.066, 1.164), respectively. Further analyses showed that PM_2.5 were positively associated with asthma in the second (RR = 1.194, 95% CI: 1.143, 1.247) and third trimester (RR = 1.050, 95% CI: 1.007, 1.094), while NO₂ (RR = 1.060, 95% CI: 1.021, 1.101) and SO₂ (RR = 1.067, 95% CI: 1.013, 1.123) were shown positively associated with asthma only in the second trimester. The relationship between wheezing and outdoor air pollutants was not significant in any of the pregnancy subgroups. This study suggests that prenatal exposure of outdoor air pollution may increase the asthma and wheezing risk in the offspring and that the second trimester may be a sensitive period for air pollution exposure. But the interpretation of the causal association is hampered by limited number of studies on dose response.

Changes in the Use of Invasive and Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation in Pediatric Asthma: 2009-2019

Rationale: Despite lower overall hospitalization rates for asthma in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of pediatric patients receiving intensive care management in the United States. Objectives: To investigate how the use of invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation for asthma has changed in the context of an evolving cohort of critically ill pediatric patients with asthma. Methods: We analyzed children admitted to intensive care units for asthma from 2009 through 2019 in the Virtual Pediatric Systems database. Regression analyses were used to evaluate how respiratory support interventions, mortality, and patient characteristics have changed over time. Odds ratios were calculated to determine how patient characteristics were associated with respiratory support needs. Stratified analyses were performed to determine how changing practice patterns may have differed between patient subgroups. Results: There were 67,614 admissions for 56,727 patients analyzed. Intubation occurred in 4.6% of admissions and decreased from 6.9% to 3.4% over time (P < 0.001), whereas noninvasive ventilation as the maximal respiratory support increased from 8.9% to 20.0% (P < 0.001). Over time, the cohort shifted to include more 2- to 6-year-olds and patients of Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic race/ethnicity. Although intubation decreased and noninvasive ventilation increased in all subgroups, the changes were most pronounced in the youngest patients and slightly less pronounced for obese patients. Conclusions: In pediatric asthma, use of intubation has halved, whereas use of noninvasive ventilation has more than doubled. This change in practice appears partially related to a younger patient cohort, although other factors merit exploration.

Growth pattern during early infancy, body mass index during childhood and childhood asthma

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of longitudinal studies of associations between growth from infancy to childhood and asthma development.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of weight change during infancy, body mass index (BMI) and the interaction of these factors on the risk of childhood asthma.

METHODS

We enrolled children born in 2008 and 2009 at full-term and with normal birth weight. The weight change in infancy was grouped into slow, on-track and rapid. BMI status in childhood was stratified into low, normal and high groups and used as a time-varying variable. The outcome was asthma, defined as two or more diagnoses of asthma separated by at least 1 year after 2 years of age. The risk of asthma was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression, with adjustment for sex, residence area at birth, economic status and feeding types in infancy.

RESULTS

Of 917,707 children born in Korea in 2008 and 2009, 271,871 were eligible for analysis. The risk of asthma was greater in groups with low birth weight (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.08), rapid body weight change during early infancy (aHR 1.08, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.10) and high BMI during childhood (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.08). The interaction of weight change during early infancy with BMI during childhood was significant for asthma (p < .01). Rapid weight gain in infancy was associated with lower risk of asthma in those with low BMI during childhood; had no association with asthma in those with normal BMI during childhood; and was associated increased asthma risk in those with high BMI during childhood-aHR 1.26 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.33) and aHR 1.33 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.56) compared with on-track and slow infant weight gain, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Low birth weight, high BMI during childhood and, in those with high childhood BMI, rapid weight gain during early infancy are associated with increased risk of childhood asthma.

Characteristics of medicine use for children with asthma in China: a nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the asthma medication use in Chinese children of different age groups, regions, and levels of cities in China, based on the 2015 Healthcare Insurance Data in China.

METHODS

The China Healthcare Insurance Research Association (CHIRA) database was searched for children from 0 to 14 years old diagnosed as asthma based on the "J45" and "J46" coded in ICD-10. A cross-sectional study design was employed.

RESULTS

A total of 308,550 children were identified, all of whom were treated under the coverage of healthcare insurance. Among them, 2,468 children were eligible for inclusion in the present study. Compared with the current status of asthma care in European and American countries, under the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma in China, the use percentages of ICS and short-acting β2 receptor agonist in children with asthma in China were lower, but the use percentages of oral corticosteroids, long-acting β2 receptor agonist, and theophylline (especially intravenous theophylline) were higher, especially in the Central and West China.

CONCLUSION

The asthma medication use was attributed to many factors, thus efforts are still needed to further popularize the GINA programs and China's guidelines for asthma diagnosis and treatment, especially in the Central and West China.

Social Inequalities: Do They Matter in Asthma, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Symptoms in Children?

Background: Social inequalities (e.g., poverty and low level of education) generate inequalities in health. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between indicators of social inequalities and the frequency of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and bronchitis in children. Material and Methods: In 2019, an epidemiological cross-sectional study on 3237 students from elementary schools in Silesia Voivodships (South Poland) was conducted. The students' parents completed a questionnaire based on the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Social inequalities in the children's families were determined according to parents' education and professional status (working vs. unemployed), self-assessment of economic status, and housing conditions. To determine the influence of social factors on the occurrence of asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Results: Children living in apartments with traces of mold had a higher risk of developing asthma (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.17-1.96; p = 0.002) or bronchitis (OR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.13-1.72; p = 0.002), wheezing attacks at nights (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.01-1.93), wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.6; 95%CI:1.24-2.08; p < 0.001), and chronic cough (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.49-2.46; p < 0.001). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was associated with higher risk of cough (OR = 1.5 95%CI: 1.22-1.96; p < 0.001) and dyspnea in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.04-2.00; p = 0.02). Low socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with increased risk of chronic cough (OR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.09-2.03; p = 0.009) and increased risk of wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.06-1.97; p = 0.008). Asthma and bronchitis were not dependent on parents' education or professional status. Conclusions: Social inequalities have significant impacts on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, bronchitis, and asthma in children. Interventions aimed at preventing bronchitis and childhood asthma should also focus on social health determinants.

Association of childhood asthma with intra-day and inter-day temperature variability in Shanghai, China

OBJECTIVES

Short-term temperature variability (TV) is associated with the exacerbation of asthma, but little is known about the relative effects of intra- and inter-day TV. We aimed to assess the relative impacts of intra- and inter-day TV on childhood asthma and to explore the modification effects by season.

METHODS

A quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was adopted to evaluate the nonlinear and lagged effects of TV on childhood asthma in Shanghai from 2009 to 2017. Intra- and inter-day TV was measured with diurnal temperature range (DTR) and temperature changes between neighboring days (TCN), respectively.

RESULTS

Increased DTR was associated with the elevated relative risk (RR) of daily outpatient visits for childhood asthma (DOVCA) in both the whole year (RR_lag0-14 for the 99th percentile: 1.264, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.052, 1.518) and cold season (RR_lag0-12 for the 99th percentile: 1.411, 95% CI: 1.053, 1.889). Higher TCN in the warm season was associated with the increased RR of DOVCA (RR_lag0-14 for the 99th percentile: 2.964, 95% CI: 1.636, 5.373). The number and fraction of DOVCA attributed to an interquartile range (IQR) increase of TCN were higher than those attributed to DTR in both the whole year period and warm season. However, the number and fraction of DOVCA attributed to an IQR increase of DTR were greater than those attributed to TCN in the cold season.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide novel evidence that both intra- and inter-day TV might be a trigger of childhood asthma. Higher DTR appeared to have greater impacts on childhood asthma in the cold season while an increase in TCN seemed to have bigger effects in the warm season.

Clinical Outcomes for Young Children Diagnosed With Asthma Versus Reactive Airway Disease

OBJECTIVE

Clinical diagnoses of asthma and reactive airway disease (RAD) in young children are subjective. We examined how often children were diagnosed with asthma versus RAD, and whether preventive care and 2-year clinical outcomes differed based on initial diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of children (2-7 years) from a university-based general pediatrics practice who had been diagnosed with RAD or asthma. We performed adjusted comparisons between groups for time until subsequent asthma-related care. We also compared delivery of asthma-related healthcare services, corticosteroid and controller prescriptions, and action plans within 2 years of index diagnosis, using bivariate and regression analyses.

RESULTS

Four hundred three children were included (64% male, 67% Black, 25% Hispanic). RAD was diagnosed in 62% of index visits, and was more likely than asthma to be diagnosed in emergency settings. In the full sample, the time between index visit and subsequent asthma care did not differ between groups, after adjustment for index location. For subjects with complete 24-month follow-up (N = 300), no between-group differences were found in adjusted analyses. Most children with RAD received action plans and controller medications only after a subsequent asthma diagnosis, on average, 9 months after their index visit.

CONCLUSIONS

RAD diagnoses were linked to delayed delivery of preventive care measures, but within 2 years of initial diagnosis, clinical outcomes for those diagnosed with RAD and asthma did not differ. To facilitate clear communication and timely treatment, a prompt diagnosis of asthma, rather than RAD, should be considered for children with asthma symptoms.

Examining the role of pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain in allergic disease development among offspring: A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest maternal weight and weight gain during pregnancy may influence foetal immunological development. However, their role in the aetiology of allergic disease is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to examine the impact of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on the incidence of four common paediatric allergic diseases.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all singleton live births in Ontario, Canada between 2012 and 2014, using maternal-newborn records from the provincial birth registry linked with health administrative databases. Neonates were followed up to 7 years for anaphylaxis, asthma, dermatitis and rhinitis, identified through validated algorithms based on healthcare encounters. We multiply imputed missing data and employed Cox proportional-hazards models to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). To test the robustness of our findings, we also conducted several sensitivity analyses, including probabilistic bias analyses for exposure and outcome misclassification. All methods were prespecified in a published protocol.

RESULTS

Of the 248,017 infants followed, 52% were born to mothers with a pre-pregnancy BMI in the normal range and only 19% were born to mothers with adequate weight gain during pregnancy. Incidence rates (per 100,000 person-days) for anaphylaxis, asthma, dermatitis and rhinitis were 0.22, 6.80, 12.41 and 1.54, respectively. Compared with normal BMI, maternal obesity was associated with increased hazards of asthma in offspring (aHR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.11), but decreased hazards of anaphylaxis (aHR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69, 0.99) and dermatitis (aHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94, 0.99). In contrast, maternal underweight was associated with increased hazards of dermatitis (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.10). We found no associations between pre-pregnancy BMI and rhinitis or GWG and any allergic outcome, and no evidence of effect measures modification by infant sex.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide support for the involvement of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI in paediatric allergic disease development.

Increasing prevalence and influencing factors of childhood asthma: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

Asthma has been a global problem, especially in children. We aim to evaluate the contemporary prevalence and influencing factors of asthma among children aged 3-7 years in Shanghai, China.

METHODS

A random sample of preschool children was included in this study. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to assess the childhood asthma. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between independent variables and childhood asthma.

RESULTS

Of 6389 preschool children who were invited to take part in this study, 6163 (response rate: 96.5%) completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of asthma was 14.6% which increased more than six folds from 2.1% in 1990. Being male, younger age, preterm delivery, being born in spring or autumn, being delivered by elective cesarean section without indication, miscarriage, high socioeconomic status, having allergy history, and exposure to passive smoking, latex paint, and dust were potential risk factors for childhood asthma. Spending more time outdoors (> 30 min/day), having indoor plants, and cleaning rooms more frequently were potential protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of childhood asthma in Shanghai has increased dramatically during the past three decades. The findings about risk and protective factors of childhood asthma could be used to develop appropriate strategies to prevent and control childhood asthma in Shanghai and in other similar metropolitan cities.

Association of Maternal Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy With Early Childhood Health Outcomes

IMPORTANCE

Seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnancy can reduce influenza illness among pregnant women and newborns. Evidence is limited on whether seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnancy is associated with adverse childhood health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy and early childhood health outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective cohort study, using a birth registry linked with health administrative data. All live births in Nova Scotia, Canada, between October 1, 2010, and March 31, 2014, were included, with follow-up until March 31, 2016. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated while controlling for maternal medical history and other potential confounders using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

EXPOSURES

Seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Childhood outcomes studied were immune-related (eg, asthma, infections), non-immune-related (eg, neoplasms, sensory impairment), and nonspecific (eg, urgent or inpatient health care utilization), measured from emergency department and hospitalization databases.

RESULTS

Among 28 255 children (49% female, 92% born at ≥37 weeks' gestation), 10 227 (36.2%) were born to women who received seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy. During a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, there was no significant association between maternal influenza vaccination and childhood asthma (incidence rate, 3.0 vs 2.5 per 1000 person-years; difference, 0.53 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, -0.15 to 1.21]; adjusted HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.59]), neoplasms (0.32 vs 0.26 per 1000 person-years; difference, 0.06 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, -0.16 to 0.28]; adjusted HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 0.57 to 2.78]), or sensory impairment (0.80 vs 0.97 per 1000 person-years; difference, -0.17 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, -0.54 to 0.21]; adjusted HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.49 to 1.37]). Maternal influenza vaccination in pregnancy was not significantly associated with infections in early childhood (incidence rate, 184.6 vs 179.1 per 1000 person-years; difference, 5.44 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 0.01 to 10.9]; adjusted IRR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.99 to 1.15]) or with urgent and inpatient health services utilization (511.7 vs 477.8 per 1000 person-years; difference, 33.9 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 24.9 to 42.9]; adjusted IRR, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.99 to 1.16]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this population-based cohort study with mean follow-up duration of 3.6 years, maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy was not significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse early childhood health outcomes.

Risk of asthma in children diagnosed with bronchiolitis during infancy: protocol of a longitudinal cohort study linking emergency department-based clinical data to provincial health administrative databases

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Bronchiolitis Epinephrine Steroid Trial (CanBEST) and the Bronchiolitis Severity Cohort (BSC) study enrolled infants with bronchiolitis during the first year of life. The CanBEST trial suggested that treatment of infants with a combined therapy of high-dose corticosteroids and nebulised epinephrine reduced the risk of admission to hospital. Our study aims to-(1) quantify the risk of developing asthma by age 5 and 10 years in children treated with high-dose corticosteroid and epinephrine for bronchiolitis during infancy, (2) identify risk factors associated with development of asthma in children with bronchiolitis during infancy, (3) develop asthma prediction models for children diagnosed with bronchiolitis during infancy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We propose a longitudinal cohort study in which we will link data from the CanBEST and BSC study with routinely collected data from provincial health administrative databases. Our outcome is asthma incidence measured using a validated health administrative data algorithm. Primary exposure will be treatment with a combined therapy of high-dose corticosteroids and nebulised epinephrine for bronchiolitis. Covariates will include type of viral pathogen, disease severity, medication use, maternal, prenatal, postnatal and demographic factors and variables related to health service utilisation for acute lower respiratory tract infection. The risk associated with development of asthma in children treated with high-dose corticosteroid and epinephrine for bronchiolitis will be assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Prediction models will be developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and internally validated using a bootstrap approach.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Our study has been approved by the ethics board of all four participating sites of the CanBEST and BSC study. Finding of the study will be disseminated to the academic community and relevant stakeholders through conferences and peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN56745572; Post-results.

Comparison of childhood asthma incidence in 3 neighbouring cities in southwestern Ontario: a 25-year longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is a known trigger for exacerbations among individuals with asthma, but its role in the development of new-onset asthma is unclear. We compared the rate of new asthma cases in Sarnia, a city with high pollution levels, with the rates in 2 neighbouring regions in southwestern Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

Using a population-based birth cohort design and linked health administrative data, we compared the hazard of incident asthma among children 0 to 10 years of age between those born in Lambton (Sarnia) and those born in Windsor and London-Middlesex, for the period Apr. 1, 1993, to Mar. 31, 2009. We used Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for year of birth and exposure to air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide [SO₂], ozone and small particulate matter [PM_2.5]), as well as maternal, geographic and socioeconomic factors.

RESULTS

Among 114 427 children, the highest incidence of asthma was in Lambton, followed by Windsor and London-Middlesex (30.3, 24.4 and 19.8 per 1000 person-years, respectively; p < 0.001). Relative to Lambton, the hazard of asthma, adjusted for socioeconomic and perinatal factors, was lower in Windsor (hazard ratio [HR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.77) and London-Middlesex (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.61-0.69). Inclusion of air pollutants attenuated this relative difference in both Windsor (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-1.01) and London-Middlesex (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.64-1.24).

INTERPRETATION

We identified a higher incidence of asthma among children born in Lambton (Sarnia) relative to 2 other regions in southwestern Ontario. Higher levels of air pollution (particularly SO₂ and PM_2.5) in this region, as experienced by children in their first year of life, may be contributory.

The factors of family management affecting asthma control status in school-age children with asthma in China

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors of family management affecting asthma control status in school-age children with asthma in China.

METHOD

The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 139 children with asthma and their parents. The age range of the children was 7 to 14 years of age (M_age = 9.85; 76.26% boys). Eight dimensions (Children Identity, View of Condition, Management Mindset, Parental Mutuality, Parenting Philosophy, Management Approach, Family Focus, Future Expectation) of the Family Management Scale for Children with Asthma (FMSCA) were used as factors of family management. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Children Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) were used to measure the asthma control status of children. A parental questionnaire was used to collect information regarding demographic data of familial socioeconomic status, general data about the child, and medical services status (Follow-Up Plan, received manual of asthma education, attended a lecture on asthma) received from medical institutions. A multivariate ordinal logistic regression model was performed.

RESULTS

Factors significantly associated with asthma control were "Follow-Up Plan" (OR, 2.004; 95% CI, 1.009-3.981), "Attended a Lecture on asthma" (OR, 2.586; 95% CI, 1.103-6.066) and two dimensions of the FMSCA, "Children Identity" (OR = 1.133; 95% CI, 1.024-1.254) and "Family Focus" (OR = 1.114; 95% CI, 1.007-1.232).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that asthma control status of school-age children in China is related to the parents' views of their child as having a "normal condition" and the parents' satisfaction with the balance between asthma related management and other aspects of family life.

Examining the effects of pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain on allergic disease development in offspring: a protocol for a population-based study using health administrative databases in Ontario, Canada

INTRODUCTION

Over the last 20 years, excess maternal pre-pregnancy weight (overweight and obesity) and gestational weight gain have become the most common morbidities in pregnancy. These morbidities may pose a threat to fetal immunological development through associated metabolic dysfunction and inflammation and, as such, may partly explain the concurrent rise of paediatric allergic disease. We will examine the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain during pregnancy on the incidence of allergic diseases among offspring in Canada's most populous province.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will conduct a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all singleton live births to residents of Ontario, Canada in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The study population will be defined using maternal-newborn records from the provincial birth registry, which captures information on maternal pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain. The cohort will be linked with provincial health administrative databases, allowing for follow-up of neonates through early childhood until 2019 (5-7 years of age). Allergic disease development (asthma, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis) will be ascertained using diagnostic codes from healthcare encounters. Potential confounders have been identified a priori through a directed acyclic graph. Cox proportional hazards regression models will be employed to assess the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain and incident paediatric allergic disease. Several preplanned sensitivity analyses will be conducted, including a probabilistic bias analysis of outcome misclassification.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Board of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the ICES Privacy Office. Findings will be disseminated in scientific conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Season-stratified effects of meteorological factors on childhood asthma in Shanghai, China

OBJECTIVES

There has been increasing interest in identifying the adverse effects of ambient environmental factors on asthma exacerbations (AE), but season-stratified effects of meteorological factors on childhood asthma remain unclear. We explored the season-stratified effects of meteorological factors on childhood AE in Shanghai, China.

METHODS

Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to examine the lagged and nonlinear effects of meteorological factors on childhood AE after adjustment for putative confounders. We also performed a season-stratified analysis to determine whether the season modified the relationship between meteorological factors and childhood AE.

RESULTS

There were 23,103 emergency department visits (EDVs) for childhood AE, including 15,466 boys and 7637 girls during 2008-2017. Most meteorological factors (e.g., temperature, diurnal temperature range (DTR), relative humidity (RH) and wind speed (WS)) were significantly associated with EDVs for childhood AE, even after adjustment for the confounding effects of air pollutants. In the whole year, extreme cold, moderate heat, higher DTR, lower RH and WS increased the relative risk (RR) for childhood AE. In the cold season, lower RH and wind speed increased the risks of childhood AE (RR_lag0-28 for the 5th percentile (p5) of RH: 9.744, 95% CI: 3.567, 26.616; RR_lag0-28 for the p5 of wind speed: 10.671, 95% CI: 1.096, 103.879). In the warm season, higher temperature and DTR, lower RH and WS increased the RR for childhood AE (RR_lag0-5 for the p95 of temperature: 1.871, 95% CI: 1.246, 2.810; RR_lag0-2 for the p95 of DTR: 1.146, 95% CI: 1.010, 1.300; RR_lag0-5 for the p5 of RH: 1.931, 95% CI: 1.191, 3.128; RR_lag0-2 for the p5 of WS: 1.311, 95% CI: 1.005, 1.709).

CONCLUSIONS

Extreme meteorological factors appeared to be triggers of EDVs for childhood AE in Shanghai and the effects modified by season. These findings provide evidence for developing season-specific and tailored strategies to prevent and control childhood AE.

Multiple Vaccinations and the Enigma of Vaccine Injury

A growing number of vaccines are administered at the same time or in close succession, increasing the complexity of assessing vaccine safety. Individual vaccines are assumed to have no other effect than protection against the targeted pathogen, but vaccines also have nonspecific and interactive effects, the outcomes of which can be beneficial or harmful. To date, no controlled trials and very few observational studies have determined the impact of vaccination schedules on overall health. The balance of the risks and benefits from mass vaccination therefore remains uncertain. Recent studies worryingly suggest links between multiple vaccinations and increased risks of diverse multisystem health problems, including allergies, infections, and neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we propose that, in susceptible persons, multiple vaccinations activate the retinoid cascade and trigger apoptotic hepatitis, leading to cholestatic liver dysfunction, in which stored vitamin A compounds (retinyl esters and retinoic acid) enter the circulation in toxic concentrations; this induces endogenous forms of hypervitaminosis A, with the severity of adverse outcomes being directly proportional to the concentration of circulating retinoids. In very low concentrations, vitamin A and its major metabolite retinoic acid contribute to immune function and to the process of immunization, whereas excess vitamin A increases the risk of adverse events, including common "side-effects" as well as chronic adverse outcomes. The increasing rates of allergy, ear infections, and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in countries with high rates of vaccination could be related to mass vaccination and to its impact on liver function and vitamin A metabolism, collectively representing endogenous manifestations of hypervitaminosis A. Further studies of health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups are urgently needed, to increase understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of vaccine injury, to identify the risk factors and screen for vaccine injury, to inform public health policy on potential hazards related to vaccination schedules, and to optimize the safety and benefits of vaccines.

Effect of maternal sleep, physical activity and screen time during pregnancy on the risk of childhood respiratory allergies: a sex-specific study

BACKGROUND

Early life exposure in the uterus had a long-term effect on children's health. As the prevalence of allergies is increasing with a remarkable sex difference, very few studies have traced back to their early origins. We sought to investigate if maternal behavioral exposure, herein sleep, physical activity, and screen time during pregnancy is associated with childhood respiratory allergies. The sex difference would be examined.

METHODS

Six thousand two hundred thirty-six mother-child pairs from Shanghai Children Allergy Study (SCAS) were enrolled, The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to evaluate respiratory allergic diseases.

RESULTS

14.6, 16.2, and 21.0% of children had asthma, wheeze, and allergic rhinitis, respectively. Maternal short sleep duration, lack of physical activity, and too much screen exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of childhood respiratory allergies, however, the significance was found only in males. Moreover, a dose-response trend was clearly shown, any two of the three combined could increase the risk (OR,1.921; 95% CI,1.217-3.033), and the coexistence of all three further amplified the risk (OR,2.412; 95% CI,1.489-3.906). The findings can be verified in allergen test subgroup and each single type of respiratory allergies in most cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal unhealthy behaviors during pregnancy could increase the risk of childhood respiratory allergies with a dose-response pattern. Males were more susceptible to the association. The identification of modifiable maternal risk behaviors lies in the emphasis of intervention in early life to face up increasing childhood allergies.

The economic burden of medical treatment of children with asthma in China

Background

At present, there are few studies on the economic burden and medical treatment of children with asthma in China. Thus this study aimed to investigate the economic burden of medical treatment of children with asthma in China.

Method

The 2015 China Medical Insurance Research Association (CHIRA) database was searched for patients with asthma from 0 to 14 years old. A cross-sectional study with cost analysis was conducted.

Results

The annual per capita direct medical cost was RMB 525 (US$75) related to asthma. Totaling 58% of the medical expenditure for asthma was covered by insurance in China, the majority of which were direct medical costs. Those that have the highest rates of using antibiotics were central China (100.0%), children aged 3 years and under (63.6%), as well as fourth-tier and fifth-tier cities (77.1%). Outpatient clinics (98.58% vs 1.42%, P < 0.01), tertiary hospitals (62.08% vs 37.92%, P < 0.01), and general hospitals (72.27% vs 27.73%, P < 0.01) were more often visited than the inpatient clinics, secondary and primary as well as the specialized clinics, respectively.

Conclusion

The economic burden of childhood asthma in China is relatively low, and the national medical insurance reduces their economic burden to a large extent. Abuse of antibiotics in treating asthma was found in China. There remain opportunities to strengthen the hierarchical medical system, reducing hospitalization and emergency visits, and ultimately reducing the economic burden of children with asthma.

The course of asthma: A population-based 10-year study examining asthma remission in children diagnosed with asthma in preschool

BACKGROUND

The natural course of asthma may differ depending on the age of onset.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate predictors of asthma remission with a focus on the age of asthma onset.

METHODS

The study was a retrospective birth cohort of children with asthma in Saskatchewan, Canada. Using the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health databases, we identified children with a diagnosis of asthma in the first 6 years of life and who had at least 10 years of follow-up after diagnosis (n = 22 563). Of these, we included 6393 children either with persistent asthma (≥1 physician visit or hospitalization for asthma [PVHA] during each year of follow-up) and those who had remission (had PVHA in the first year after diagnosis but at some point during the follow-up no longer received PVHA until end of the study). We used survival analysis to examine associations between remission and age of asthma onset.

RESULTS

Of the study participants, 87.2% had early-onset (≤3 years) and 12.8% had late-onset (4-6 years) asthma. Over the 10-years of follow-up, the rate of asthma remission was 37 per 100 person-years. Early-onset asthma (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.10; 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.20), being female (HR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.07-1.18), living in a rural (HR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.14-1.27) and medium urban (HR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.08-1.26) location were positively associated with remission while history of atopy decreased likelihood of remission (HR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.54-0.97).

CONCLUSION

Most children with asthma experienced remission, especially those with the onset of symptoms within the first 3 years of life.

Skin prick reactivity among asthmatics in East Africa

Background

The burden of asthma in Africa is high, and yet the disease is not universally prioritised. Data on allergic asthma and its impact on asthma morbidity are limited in Africa. Our aim was to describe the distribution of skin prick positivity among asthmatics in Eastern Africa.

Methods

From August 2016 to May 2018, 1671 asthmatic patients were enrolled from Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia as part of the African Severe Asthma Program clinical study. Skin prick testing was performed at baseline using a panel of 12 allergens, and factors associated with skin prick reactivity determined.

Results

Of the 1, 671 patients recruited, 71% were female with a median age of 40 years, 93.6% were aged >15 years and the patterns of asthma symptom frequency was intermittent in 2.9%, mild persistent in 19.9%, moderate persistent in 42.6% and severe persistent in 34.6% at baseline. Self-reported triggers, were dust (92%), cold weather (89%), upper respiratory infections (84%), strong smells (79%) and exposure to tobacco (78%). The majority (90%) of the participants had at least 1 positive allergen reaction, with 0.9% participants reacting to all the 12 allergens. Participants commonly reacted to house dust mites (66%), Blomia tropicalis (62%), and the German cockroach (52%). Patients sensitized to more allergens (>2) had significantly reduced lung function (FEV ≤ 80%; p = 0.001) and were more likely to visit the emergency department due to asthma (p = 0.012). There was no significant relationship between number of allergens and measures of asthma control, quality of life, and other clinical outcomes. Only the country of origin was independently associated with atopy among African asthmatics.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of skin prick positivity among East African patients with asthma, with the commonest allergen being house dust mite. Skin reactivity did not correlate well with asthma severity and poor asthma control. The relation between atopy, measured through skin prick testing, and measures of asthma control among asthma patients in Eastern Africa is unclear and needs further study.

Trial registration

The ASAP study was registered prospectively. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03065920; Registration date: February 28, 2017; Last verified: February 28, 2017.

Efficacy of Macrolides on Acute Asthma or Wheezing Exacerbations in Children with Recurrent Wheezing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The role of macrolides for treatment of children with acute asthma or wheezing exacerbations is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of macrolides in children with recurrent wheezing presenting with acute asthma or wheezing exacerbation.

METHODS

We conducted an electronic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials of macrolides (any macrolide) compared with placebo or standard treatment in children up to 18 years with recurrent wheezing/asthma presenting with an acute exacerbation.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes were need for hospitalization and/or time of acute asthma/wheezing symptoms resolution; secondary outcomes were duration of stay in the emergency department (ED)/clinic, severity of symptoms of the index episode, use of additional systemic corticosteroids or short active β-2 agonists, changes in lung function measures, ED visit/hospitalization during first week after index episode, time to next exacerbation, or adverse effects (AEs).

RESULTS

Only three studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 334 children, 410 treated episodes); two studies included recurrent wheezers and the third included asthmatic children. There was no difference in hospitalization between groups, but children treated with macrolides had a significantly lower time to symptoms resolution than controls, although the magnitude of benefit remains to be quantified due to no normal distribution data presented. There was no difference in time to next episode of exacerbation (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.71-1.28; I² = 0%; p = 0.77). In one study, children receiving macrolides had a significant decrease in the severity of symptoms, decrease use of salbutamol, and another study showed improved lung function. No study evaluated antibiotic resistance development.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited evidence support that a macrolide trial could be considered in children with acute asthma or recurrent wheezing exacerbation.

Towards a fuller assessment of the economic benefits of reducing air pollution from fossil fuel combustion: Per-case monetary estimates for children's health outcomes

BACKGROUND

Impacts on children's health are under-represented in benefits assessments of policies related to ambient air quality and climate change. To complement our previous compilation of concentration-response (C-R) functions for a number of children's health outcomes associated with air pollution, we provide per-case monetary estimates of the same health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to establish per-case monetary estimates for a suite of prevalent children's health outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and IQ reduction) that can be incorporated into benefits assessments of air pollution regulations and climate change mitigation policies.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2018 to identify relevant economic costs for these six adverse health outcomes in children. We restricted our literature search to studies published in the U.S., with a supplemental consideration of studies from the U.K. and prioritized literature reviews with summary cost estimates and papers that provided lifetime cost of illness estimates.

RESULTS

Our literature search and evaluation process reviewed 1065 papers and identified 12 most relevant papers on per-case monetary estimates for preterm birth, low birth weight, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Details are presented in full. We separately identified estimates of the lost lifetime earnings associated with the loss of a single IQ point. The final per-case cost estimates for each outcome were selected based on the most robust evidence. These estimates range from $23,573 for childhood asthma not persisting into adulthood to $3,109,096 for a case of autism with a concurrent intellectual disability.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first time that the child-specific health outcomes of preterm birth, low birth weight, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and IQ reduction have been systematically valued and presented in one place. This is an important addition to the body of health-related valuation literature as these outcomes have substantial economic costs that are not considered in most assessments of the benefits of air pollution and climate mitigation policies. In general, however, the available per-case estimates presented here did not incorporate the broad societal and long-term costs and are likely underestimates. Although our context has been air pollution and climate policies, the per-case monetary estimates presented here can be applied to other environmental exposures. Fuller assessments of health benefits to children and their corresponding economic gains will improve decision-making on environmental policy.

Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Incident and Ongoing Asthma in Children

RATIONALE

Childhood asthma has shown variable associations with children's physical activity. Neighborhood walkability captures community features that promote walking and is protective against some chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated associations between home neighborhood walkability and incident and ongoing childhood asthma.

METHODS

In this population-based cohort study, we used prospectively collected administrative healthcare data for the Province of Ontario housed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. We followed an administrative data cohort of 326,383 Toronto children born between 1997 and 2003, inclusive, until ages 8-15 years. Home neighborhood walkability quintile was measured using a validated walkability index with four dimensions: population density, dwelling density, access to retail and services, and street connectivity. Incident asthma was defined by time of entry into the validated Ontario Asthma Surveillance Information System database, which requires two outpatient visits for asthma within two consecutive years or any hospitalization for asthma and follows children with asthma longitudinally starting at any age. Associations between walkability and incident asthma were examined using Cox proportional hazards models. Associations between ongoing asthma and walkability in each year of life were examined using generalized linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Twenty-one percent of children (n = 69,628) developed incident asthma and were followed longitudinally in the Ontario Asthma Surveillance Information System database. Low birth home neighborhood walkability was associated with an increased incidence of asthma (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.14). Among children with asthma, low walkability in a given year of a child`s life was associated with greater odds of ongoing asthma in the same year (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Children living in neighborhoods with low walkability were at increased risk of incident and ongoing asthma. Neighborhood walkability improvement, such as by adding pedestrian paths to improve street connectivity, offers potential strategies to contribute to primary asthma prevention.

Health outcomes of young children born to mothers who received 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination during pregnancy: retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether any association exists between exposure to 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza vaccination during pregnancy and negative health outcomes in early childhood.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Population based birth registry linked with health administrative databases in the province of Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

All live births from November 2009 through October 2010 (n=104 249) were included, and children were followed until 5 years of age to ascertain study outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Rates of immune related (infectious diseases, asthma), non-immune related (neoplasms, sensory disorders), and non-specific morbidity outcomes (urgent or inpatient health services use, pediatric complex chronic conditions) were evaluated from birth to 5 years of age; under-5 childhood mortality was also assessed. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust hazard ratios, incidence rate ratios, and risk ratios for potential confounding.

RESULTS

Of 104 249 live births, 31 295 (30%) were exposed to pH1N1 influenza vaccination in utero. No significant associations were found with upper or lower respiratory infections, otitis media, any infectious diseases, neoplasms, sensory disorders, urgent and inpatient health services use, pediatric complex chronic conditions, or mortality. A weak association was observed between prenatal pH1N1 vaccination and increased risk of asthma (adjusted hazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.09) and decreased rates of gastrointestinal infections (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.94, 0.91 to 0.98). These results were unchanged in sensitivity analyses accounting for any potential differential healthcare seeking behavior or access between exposure groups.

CONCLUSIONS

No associations were observed between exposure to pH1N1 influenza vaccine during pregnancy and most five year pediatric health outcomes. Residual confounding may explain the small associations observed with increased asthma and reduced gastrointestinal infections. These outcomes should be assessed in future studies.

Parent- and Child-Reported Asthma Responsibility in School-Age Children: Examining Agreement, Disagreement, and Family Functioning

INTRODUCTION

The school-age years represent a critical time for children to begin assuming shared asthma management responsibility. This study aimed to describe parent- and child-reported asthma responsibility, examine agreement and disagreement, and explore family functioning as a predictor of agreement/disagreement.

METHODS

Twenty children (age range = 6-11 years) and one of their parents participated in this cross-sectional study. Parent-child dyads independently reported on their asthma management responsibility and asthma control. Parents also completed family functioning and demographic questionnaires.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between parent and child asthma responsibility scores (t(19) = 2.46, p < .05), indicating that children saw themselves as assuming greater responsibilities than their parents did. A regression analysis showed that collectively, family functioning predicted 74% of the variance in parent-child disagreement (F(6,15) = 4.17, p < .05).

DISCUSSION

Family functioning may be an important factor in promoting shared management of asthma in school-age children.

Asthma exacerbation trajectories and their predictors in children with incident asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma exacerbation trajectories in children after incident asthma diagnosis are understudied.

OBJECTIVE

To identify trajectories of asthma exacerbation and predictors of these trajectories in children with incident asthma.

METHODS

Children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, Canada, with incident asthma were followed-up for up to 12 years during childhood. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify distinct asthma exacerbation trajectory groups. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of trajectory group membership.

RESULTS

The mean age at asthma diagnosis among 403 children was 5.9 years. Three distinct trajectories were identified: low increasing (21.3% of children), medium decreasing (45.8% of children), and high decreasing (32.8% of children). Asthma attack probability increased gradually after diagnosis in low increasing group, decreased from moderate level after diagnosis to almost zero probability at the end of follow-up in the medium decreasing group, and decreased after diagnosis but remained higher in the high decreasing group than the other 2 groups at 12 years after diagnosis. Children having more siblings at home were more likely to belong to the medium decreasing and high decreasing trajectory groups, whereas children older at asthma diagnosis were less likely to belong to the medium decreasing and high decreasing trajectory groups than the low increasing trajectory group.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that children with incident asthma follow 3 distinct trajectories of asthma exacerbations after asthma diagnosis. The trajectory group with initial moderate exacerbation probability has better long-term prognosis.

Fine particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and infancy and incident asthma

BACKGROUND

Lung development is a multistage process from conception to the postnatal period, disruption of which by air pollutants can trigger later respiratory morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the effects of weekly average fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm [PM_2.5]) exposure during pregnancy and infancy on asthma and identify vulnerable times to help elucidate possible mechanisms of the effects of PM_2.5 on asthma symptoms.

METHODS

A birth cohort study including 184,604 children born during 2004-2011 in Taichung City was retrieved from the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database and followed until 2014. A daily satellite-based hybrid model was applied to estimate PM_2.5 exposure for each subject. A Cox proportional hazard model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to evaluate the associations of asthma with PM_2.5 exposure during pregnancy and infancy.

RESULTS

The birth cohort contained 34,336 asthmatic patients, and the mean age of children given a diagnosis of asthma was 3.39 ± 1.78 years. Increased exposure to PM_2.5 during gestational weeks 6 to 22 and 9 to 46 weeks after birth were significantly associated with an increased incidence of asthma. The exposure-response relationship indicated that the hazard ratio (HR) of asthma increased steeply at PM_2.5 exposure of greater than 93 μg/m³ during pregnancy. Additionally, the HRs remained significant with postnatal exposure to PM_2.5 between 26 and 72 μg/m³ (range, 1.01-1.07 μg/m³), followed by a sharp increase in HRs at PM_2.5 exposure of greater than 73 μg/m³.

CONCLUSION

Both prenatal and postnatal exposures to PM_2.5 were associated with later development of asthma. The vulnerable time windows might be within early gestation and midgestation and infancy.

Asthma diagnosis in infants and preschool children: a systematic review of clinical guidelines

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The definition and diagnosis of asthma are the subject of controversy that is particularly intense in the case of individuals in the first years of life, due to reasons such as the difficulty of performing objective pulmonary function tests or the high frequency with which the symptoms subside in the course of childhood. Since there is no consensus regarding the diagnosis of asthma in preschool children, a systematic review has been carried out.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search was made of the clinical guidelines published in the last 10 years and containing information referred to the concept or diagnosis of asthma in childhood - including the first years of life (infants and preschool children). A series of key questions were established, and each selected guide was analyzed in search of answers to those questions. The review protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42017074872.

RESULTS

Twenty-one clinical guidelines were selected: 10 general guides (children and adults), eight pediatric guides and three guides focusing on preschool children. The immense majority accepted that asthma can be diagnosed from the first years of life, without requiring pulmonary function tests or other complementary techniques. The response to treatment and the exclusion of other alternative diagnoses are key elements for establishing the diagnosis. Only one of the guides denied the possibility of diagnosing asthma in preschool children.

CONCLUSIONS

There is generalized although not unanimous agreement that asthma can be diagnosed in preschool children.

Determinants of disease severity among patients with atopic dermatitis: association with components of the atopic march

We aimed to explore the association of key clinical characteristics with disease severity in atopic dermatitis (AD) and its relation to components of the atopic march in a large hospital cohort. Outpatients with AD referred to the Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, between January 2012 and December 2017, were compared based on disease severity (SCORAD); mild (< 25), moderate (25-50) and severe (> 50). A total of 470 AD patients were included: 122 small children (< 4 years of age), 103 children/adolescents (age 4-15 years) and 245 adults (> 15 years of age). A significant difference between severity groups in small children was observed for FLG mutation carrier status (16.7 vs. 30.2 vs. 60.0% mutation carriers among patients with mild, moderate and severe AD, respectively, p = 0.012) and self-rated health (3.2 vs. 2.7 vs. 2.8 with 4 being excellent health, p = 0.022). A significant difference between severity groups in adults was observed for male sex (24.4 vs. 39.8 vs. 52.9%, p = 0.003), serum total IgE (577 vs. 1269 vs. 2379 × 10³ IU/L, p < 0.001), blood eosinophil count (0.28 vs. 0.39 vs. 0.61 × 10⁹/L, p < 0.001) and asthma (42.9 vs. 38.8 vs. 72.0%, p < 0.001). Early onset of AD (< 1 year of age) and FLG mutation was associated with more severe disease and high serum total IgE levels. In conclusion, the distribution of key clinical characteristics varies significantly according to the severity of AD measured by SCORAD. Sub-typing of AD patients related to determinants of disease severity may be helpful in establishing prognosis and targeted treatment of AD.

A population-based birth cohort study of the association between childhood-onset asthma and exposure to industrial air pollutant emissions

BACKGROUND

Studies of the association between air pollution and asthma onset have mostly focused on urban and traffic-related air pollution. We investigated the associations between exposure to industrial emissions and childhood-onset asthma in a population-based birth cohort in Quebec, Canada, 2002-2011.

METHODS

The cohort was built from administrative health databases. We developed separately for PM_2.5 and SO₂ different metrics representing children's time-varying residential exposure to industrial emissions: 1) yearly number of tons of air pollutant emitted by industries located within 2.5 km of the residence; 2) distance to the nearest "major emitter" (≥100 tons) of either PM_2.5 and SO₂ within 7.5 km of the residence, and; 3) tons of air pollutant emitted by the nearest "major emitter" within 7.5 km, weighted by the inverse of the distance and the percentage of time that the residence was downwind. To handle the large number of zeros (i.e., children unexposed) we decomposed the exposure variable into two covariates simultaneously included in the regression model: a binary indicator of exposure and a continuous exposure variable centered at the mean value among exposed children. We performed Cox models using age as the time axis, adjusted for gender, material and social deprivation and calendar year. We indirectly adjusted for unmeasured secondhand smoke.

RESULTS

The cohort included 722,667 children and 66,559 incident cases of asthma. Across the different exposure metrics, mean percentage changes in the risk of asthma onset in children exposed to the mean relative to those unexposed ranged from 4.5% (95% CI: 2.8, 6.3%) to 10.6% (95% CI: 6.2, 15.2%) for PM_2.5 and, from 1.1% (95% CI: -0.1, 3.3%) to 8.9% (95% CI: 7.1, 11.1%) for SO₂. Indirect adjustment for secondhand smoke did not substantially affect the associations. In children exposed, the risk of asthma onset increased with the magnitude of the exposure for all metrics, except the distance to the nearest major emitter of SO₂.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based birth cohort, residential exposure to industrial air pollutant emissions was associated with childhood-onset asthma. Additional studies with improved models for estimating exposure to industrial point-sources are needed to further support the observed associations.

The Effects of Music Therapy on the Physiological Response of Asthmatic Children Receiving Inhalation Therapy

The clinical manifestation of asthma in children can interfere with their daily activities. Music therapy may become one of the alternative approaches to making children feel comfortable during inhalation therapy. The aim of the study was to identify the effects of music therapy on the physiological response of asthmatic preschool and school-age children receiving inhalation therapy. This study used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group with a pre-test-post-test design. The 44 respondents consisted of preschool and school-age children assigned to intervention and control groups. The results showed a significant difference in average oxygen saturation, heart rate, and respiratory rate between the control and intervention groups before and after intervention (p < α; α = .05). Music therapy can be used as a nursing intervention to improve the physiological response of children with breathing problems.

The influence of prenatal mental health service use on the incidence of childhood asthma: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine whether maternal mental health service use during pregnancy, a potential proxy measure of prenatal maternal stress, is associated with the development of asthma in a large population-based sample of children. We hypothesized that children born to mothers with mental health service use during pregnancy would have a higher incidence of childhood asthma.

STUDY DESIGN

Health administrative data from Ontario, Canada (population >13 million) was used to identify pairs of mothers linked with their children born between April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the cumulative incidence of asthma by age 12 years in children whose mothers did or did not have prenatal mental health service use. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between prenatal maternal mental health service use and childhood asthma incidence, after adjusting for the child's sex, residency (rural vs. urban), socioeconomic status, comorbid health conditions, low birthweight, and maternal history of asthma.

RESULTS

In a population-based sample of 122,333 children, those born to mothers with mental health service use during pregnancy had increased odds of developing asthma (odds ratio: 1.16, 95% confidence intervals: 1.12, 1.20, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal maternal mental health service use is an independent risk factor for the development of asthma in childhood. This supports growing evidence for the importance of in utero exposure to maternal stress factors in asthma pathogenesis. This study highlights a potential strategy for the primary prevention of childhood asthma, namely improved recognition and management of mental health issues and stress in pregnant mothers.

The Role of Distributed Health Literacy in Asthma Integrated Care: A Public Medical Context from Portugal

BACKGROUND

Improvements in asthma integrated care might be achieved through in-depth knowledge about how health literacy is dispersed through a group. This study intends to map out health literacy mediators (those who makes his/her literacy skills available to others for them to accomplish specific literacy purposes) and how they enable self-management skills in patients with asthma.

METHODS

Twenty interviews were conducted in a Primary Care Center of Porto using the McGill Illness Narrative Interview. Data were thematically analyzed as case-based and process-tracing-oriented.

RESULTS

Interviewees with a dense network of mediators revealed a low impact of asthma on their lives, dependence on primary care physician for instrumental support and dependence on family members to provide emotional/pragmatic support. Interviewees who relied on a restricted network of mediators (belonging to formal sources of health services and providing informational support) described episodes of crisis as disruptive and demonstrated a reactive approach to self-management skills.

CONCLUSIONS

The roles performed by core health mediators (health professionals, family/friends, media) in support of asthma management varied according to patients' narratives of minimization/disruption, connected to dense/restricted social networks. To clarify the boundaries of responsibility-shifting and to enrich support provided by formal sources of health services and peer education groups is needed.

Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Childhood Asthma: A US Cohort

Prenatal folic acid exposure has been linked to higher risk of childhood asthma in countries that do not fortify the food supply with folic acid. This study seeks to examine this association in the United States, where the food supply is generally fortified with folic acid. Participants were 1279 mother-child pairs from Project Viva, an ongoing prospective birth cohort, with folic acid intake in pregnancy assessed through validated food frequency questionnaires. The primary outcome was physician-diagnosed asthma at mid-childhood. In an unadjusted logistic regression model, higher folic acid intake was associated with lower odds of asthma in mid-childhood (odds ratio [OR] 0.48; 95% CI 0.31-0.76). However, in the adjusted analysis this association was attenuated (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.80; 95% CI 0.49-1.33). Our results suggest that in the United States, where there is generalized folic acid fortification of food, maternal folic acid intake during pregnancy is not associated with asthma development in offspring.

Automated chart review utilizing natural language processing algorithm for asthma predictive index

BACKGROUND

Thus far, no algorithms have been developed to automatically extract patients who meet Asthma Predictive Index (API) criteria from the Electronic health records (EHR) yet. Our objective is to develop and validate a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to identify patients that meet API criteria.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study nested in a birth cohort study in Olmsted County, MN. Asthma status ascertained by manual chart review based on API criteria served as gold standard. NLP-API was developed on a training cohort (n = 87) and validated on a test cohort (n = 427). Criterion validity was measured by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the NLP algorithm against manual chart review for asthma status. Construct validity was determined by associations of asthma status defined by NLP-API with known risk factors for asthma.

RESULTS

Among the eligible 427 subjects of the test cohort, 48% were males and 74% were White. Median age was 5.3 years (interquartile range 3.6-6.8). 35 (8%) had a history of asthma by NLP-API vs. 36 (8%) by abstractor with 31 by both approaches. NLP-API predicted asthma status with sensitivity 86%, specificity 98%, positive predictive value 88%, negative predictive value 98%. Asthma status by both NLP and manual chart review were significantly associated with the known asthma risk factors, such as history of allergic rhinitis, eczema, family history of asthma, and maternal history of smoking during pregnancy (p value < 0.05). Maternal smoking [odds ratio: 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.8-10.7] was associated with asthma status determined by NLP-API and abstractor, and the effect sizes were similar between the reviews with 4.4 vs 4.2 respectively.

CONCLUSION

NLP-API was able to ascertain asthma status in children mining from EHR and has a potential to enhance asthma care and research through population management and large-scale studies when identifying children who meet API criteria.

Health care access, concentrated poverty, and pediatric asthma hospital care use in California's San Joaquin Valley: A multilevel approach

BACKGROUND

California's San Joaquin Valley is a region with a history of poverty, low health care access, and high rates of pediatric asthma. It is important to understand the potential barriers to care that challenge vulnerable populations.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to describe pediatric asthma-related utilization patterns in the emergency department (ED) and hospital by insurance coverage as well as to identify contributing individual-level indicators (age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance coverage) and neighborhood-level indicators of health care access.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study based on secondary data from California hospital and ED records 2007-2012. Children who used services for asthma-related conditions, were aged 0-14 years, Hispanic or non-Hispanic white, and resided in the San Joaquin Valley were included in the analysis. Poisson multilevel modeling was used to control for individual- and neighborhood-level factors.

RESULTS

The effect of insurance coverage on asthma ED visits and hospitalizations was modified by the neighborhood-level percentage of concentrated poverty (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.01-1.02; RR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02-1.04, respectively). The effect of insurance coverage on asthma hospitalizations was completely explained by the neighborhood-level percentage of concentrated poverty.

CONCLUSIONS

Observed effects of insurance coverage on hospital care use were significantly modified by neighborhood-level measures of health care access and concentrated poverty. This suggests not only an overall greater risk for poor children on Medi-Cal, but also a greater vulnerability or response to neighborhood social factors such as socioeconomic status, community cohesiveness, crime, and racial/ethnic segregation.

Differences between preschoolers with asthma and allergies in urban and rural environments

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have provided conflicting results about how living in a rural or urban environment influences schoolchildren with asthma and allergic diseases in different ways. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if recurrent wheezing preschoolers from rural or urban areas differ in asthma, allergic diseases, and atopy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional-study in Rafaela, Argentina, on 143 preschoolers with recurrent wheezing from rural and urban settings was performed (2010-2012). Diagnosis of asthma (by positive asthma predictive index [API]), allergic diseases (rhinitis, dermatitis), and atopy (by skin prick test [SPT], peripheral blood eosinophils, and serum total IgE) were assessed.

RESULTS

Preschoolers from rural settings had significantly higher prevalence of vaginal delivery, longer breastfeeding, earlier onset of wheezing, more parental smoking, siblings, shared a bedroom, and more exposure to chemicals used in plant fumigation or farm animals, and unpasteurized milk consumption, in comparison to preschoolers living in urban setting. In contrast, preschoolers from urban areas had significantly higher prevalence of parental history of allergy, positive skin prick test, and positive API. After multivariate analysis adjusting for covariates, maternal smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 3.44] and positive SPT (OR = 5.57) significantly increase the risk of asthma diagnosis (positive API); in contrast, living in rural setting (OR = 0.04), and having more siblings (OR = 0.51) decrease their risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrent wheezing preschoolers from rural areas had a significant inverse odds of being diagnosed with asthma (type-2 inflammation) when compared to those from urban areas. Exposure to farm animals and consumption of unpasteurized milk might have a role.

Asthma and allergic rhinitis in childhood: what's new

Novel approaches are currently offered for the diagnostic workup and therapeutic management of allergic rhinitis and asthma. New predictive biomarkers of allergy and asthma are available. Primary and secondary prevention, earlier intervention, and modification of the natural history of allergic rhinitis and asthma are being intensively investigated. This review highlights advances in the understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, and management of atopic airway diseases in childhood, as well as prenatal and early-life risk factors and strategies for prevention.

Efficacy of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of acute wheezing episodes in asthmatic preschoolers: Systematic review with meta-analysis

RATIONALE

Systemic corticosteroids (SCS) are used for treat preschoolers with acute asthma or wheezing exacerbations, with conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of oral corticosteroids (OCS) compared to placebo in preschoolers presenting with acute asthma/wheezing exacerbations.

METHODS

Five electronic databases were searched for all placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials of OCS in children <6 years of age presenting with recurrent wheezing/asthma exacerbations of any severity. Primary outcomes were hospitalizations, unscheduled emergency department (ED) visits in following month, need of additional OCS courses, and length of stay (ED or hospital).

RESULTS

Eleven studies met inclusion criteria (n = 1,733); four were conducted on an outpatient basis, five in inpatients, and two in the ED. Significant heterogeneity was found when pooling all studies, and thus analysis was stratified by trial setting. Among the outpatient studies, children who received OCS had a higher hospitalization rate (RR: 2.15 [95%CI = 1.08-4.29], I(2)  = 0%) compared to those to received placebo. Among the ED studies, children who received OCS had a lower risk of hospitalization (RR: 0.58 [0.37-0.92], I(2)  = 0%). Among the inpatient studies, children who received OCS needed fewer additional OCS courses than those on placebo (RR: 0.57 [0.40-0.81], I(2)  = 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with OCS in the ED or hospital may be beneficial in toddlers and preschoolers with frequent asthma/wheezing exacerbations. However, more studies are needed before OCS can be broadly recommended for this age group. Future trials should be carefully designed to avoid bias and according to our findings regarding administration setting. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:868-876. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Skeletal Effects of Inhaled Glucocorticoids

The skeletal effects of inhaled glucocorticoids are poorly understood. Children with asthma treated with inhaled glucocorticoids have lower growth velocity, bone density, and adult height. Studies of adults with asthma have reported variable effects on BMD, although prospective studies have demonstrated bone loss after initiation of inhaled glucocorticoids in premenopausal women. There is a dose-response relationship between inhaled glucocorticoids and fracture risk in asthmatics; the risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures is greater in subjects treated with the highest doses in the majority of studies. Patients with COPD have lower BMD and higher fracture rates compared to controls, however, the majority of studies have not found an additional detrimental effect of inhaled glucocorticoids on bone. While the evidence is not conclusive, it supports using the lowest possible dose of inhaled glucocorticoids to treat patients with asthma and COPD and highlights the need for further research on this topic.