Preschool children's asthma and allergic symptoms in Chongqing, China, associated with parental health: Reporting bias or shared home environment

Abstract

Aim: To study associations between children9s asthma and allergy, home environment and parental health. Methods: Parents of 3-6 years old children from randomized kindergartens in Chongqing, China answered a questionnaire (one/child), include questions on children and parents9 symptoms and home environment. Associations between children9s asthma and allergy and the home environment were analysed by multiple logistic regression, controlling for gender, age, breast feeding and parental factors (gender, smoking, asthma and allergy). Additional models were applied with further adjustment for parents9 current symptoms. Results: Among 4250 children (response rate: 74.5%), 8.4% had doctor-diagnosed asthma (DDA) and 6.2% doctor-diagnosed rhinitis (DDR). Among parents, 5.5% had a history of asthma and allergies and 16.2% were smokers. Home dampness was associated with children9s DDA (OR=1.72), DDR (OR=2.10), wheeze (OR=1.60), cough (OR=1.50), rhinitis (OR=1.39) and eczema (OR=1.69). Traffic exposure was associated with children9s DDA (OR=1.27), DDR (OR=1.54), wheeze (OR=1.21), cough (OR=1.24), and rhinitis (OR=1.19). Parents with different types of current symptoms reported 1.5-2 times more asthma and allergy among their child. Further adjustment for parents9 health status had little influence on the ORs for associations between dampness and children9s asthma and allergy. Conclusions: Consistent associations between home dampness and children9s asthma and allergy were found. Reporting bias could influence prevalence of children9s asthma and allergy, and adjustment for parental health can be needed, especially in ecological analysis.