Current situation and influencing factors of wheezing among children and adolescents aged 3-18 years in 11 cities in China from 2022 to 2023

Abstract

Objective: To explore the incidence and influencing factors of wheezing among children and adolescents aged 3-18 years in 11 cities in China from 2022 to 2023. Methods: From October 2022 to August 2023, 11 cities including Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, Suqian in Jiangsu Province, Chifeng and Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, Tangshan in Hebei Province, Changzhi in Shanxi Province, Yinchuan in Ningxia Province, Lanzhou and Dingxi in Gansu Province, Linyi in Shandong Province, and Tonghua in Jilin Province were selected as research sites to recruit kindergarten children and primary and secondary school adolescents in local urban areas. A total of 21 959 children and adolescents were included in this study. Demographic information, wheezing data (whether wheezing has occurred in the past and whether wheezing attacks have occurred in the past one year), personal history, family history and other information were collected through questionnaires. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of wheezing attacks in the past one year. Results: The mean age of 21 959 children and adolescents was (12.09±3.65) years old, and 52.3% (11 480) were boys. The incidence of wheezing history was 3.7% (816 cases), and the incidence of wheezing attacks in the past year was 2.5% (556 cases). The multivariate logistic regression model analysis results showed that compared with older age, girls, full-term natural delivery, no allergic rhinitis, no family history of allergic diseases, no passive smoking, partial diet, natural conception and childbirth, the children aged 3-18 years with young age, male, partial diet, passive smoking, family history of allergic diseases, allergic rhinitis, cesarean section, premature birth, and assisted reproduction had a higher risk of wheezing [OR (95%CI): 0.86(0.84-0.88), 1.27(1.07-1.51), 2.31(1.95-2.75), 2.09(1.76-2.47), 3.5(2.80-4.37), 4.05(3.39-4.83), 1.20(1.02-1.43), 2.26(1.66-3.09), and 1.67(1.01-2.78)]. Conclusion: From 2022 to 2023, the incidence of wheezing among children aged 3-18 years in China is not significantly higher than before, and childhood wheezing may be related to factors such as children's age, gender, dietary habits, family and personal history of allergic diseases, passive smoking, and perinatal period.