Abstract
Background: Cuba is a unique country, and despite limited economic development, has an excellent health system. However, the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children in Havana, Cuba, is unusually high.Aim: As early life exposures are critical to the aetiology of asthma, we have studied environmental influences on the risk of wheezing in Cuban infants.Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: A random sample of 2032 children aged 12–15 months living in Havana was selected for inclusion in the cohort. Data were collected using questionnaires administered by researchers.Results: Of 2032 infants invited to participate, 1956 (96%) infants provided data. The prevalence of any wheeze was 45%, severe wheeze requiring use of emergency services was 30% and recurrent wheeze on three or more occasions was 20%. The largest adjusted risk factors for any wheeze were presence of eczema [odds ratio (OR) 2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.48–2.94], family history of asthma (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.60–2.62), poor ventilation in the house (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.48–2.67), attendance at nursery (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.24–2.57), male sex (OR1.52; 95% CI 1.19–1.96) and the number of smokers in the house (P < 0.03 for trend), OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.17–2.31) for three or more smokers in the house compared to no smokers in the household.Conclusion: We have identified several risk factors for any wheeze in young infants living in modern day Cuba. As the prevalence of smoking in the house is high (51%), intervention studies are required to determine effective strategies to improve infant health.
Highlights
Asthma is a disease that often presents during the first decade of life, with an estimated global prevalence of wheezing in 6- to 7-year–old children of 12%.1 The prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms has increased substantially in the past five decades,[2] often in parallel with economic development and urbanization.[3,4,5] and increases in prevalence appear to be! The Author 2013
The largest adjusted risk factors for any wheeze were presence of eczema [odds ratio (OR) 2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.48–2.94], family history of asthma, poor ventilation in the house, attendance at nursery, male sex (OR1.52; 95% CI 1.19–1.96) and the number of smokers in the house (P < 0.03 for trend), OR 1.64 for three or more smokers in the house compared to no smokers in the household
We have identified several risk factors for any wheeze in young infants living in modern day Cuba
Summary
Asthma is a disease that often presents during the first decade of life, with an estimated global prevalence of wheezing in 6- to 7-year–old children of 12%.1 The prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms has increased substantially in the past five decades,[2] often in parallel with economic development and urbanization.[3,4,5] and increases in prevalence appear to be! The Author 2013. Asthma is a disease that often presents during the first decade of life, with an estimated global prevalence of wheezing in 6- to 7-year–old children of 12%.1. The prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms has increased substantially in the past five decades,[2] often in parallel with economic development and urbanization.[3,4,5] and increases in prevalence appear to be.
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