Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that particulate matter is a major problem in indoor air quality in Hong Kong schools, but little has been done to assess its relationship with health indicators in the children attending those schools. Our study aims to address this research gap by collecting aerosol data in schools to examine the link between different air pollutants with childhood respiratory health. It is important to explore whether or not the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema are increasing in local children.ObjectiveOur aim is to (1) examine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in school children aged 6-7 years in Hong Kong between 2001 and 2017, and (2) measure air quality at primary schools and explore its relationship with health outcomes measured by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) survey.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study consisting of an ISAAC questionnaire and aerosol data collection. We have recruited over 2000 parents of primary school students aged 6-7 years old for the questionnaire, and so far 19 schools have completed aerosol data collection.ResultsThe study is expected to be completed this year.ConclusionsWe predict that our study will show a significant change in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in school children aged 6-7 years old in recent years. In addition, we expect to show a significant association between air quality at school and health outcomes measured by the ISAAC survey.
Highlights
The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has increased substantially in past decades, imposing a significant disease burden on patients, their families, and society [1,2,3,4,5]
We predict that our study will show a significant change in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in school children aged 6-7 years old in recent years
We participated in Phase 3 of ISAAC in 2001, which showed there had been a significant increase in prevalence of severe asthma symptoms, life-time rhinitis, current rhinitis, and life-time eczema and a seeming plateau of life-time asthma, life-time wheeze, and current wheeze [10]
Summary
Our aim is to (1) examine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in school children aged 6-7 years in Hong Kong between 2001 and 2017, and (2) measure air quality at primary schools and explore its relationship with health outcomes measured by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) survey
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