Abstract
BackgroundWe aimed to assess which sociodemographic factors are associated with current asthma and indicators of lung function in 10‐year‐old children.MethodsWe analysed data of 5237 children (Mean age: 9.7, SD: 0.3) from the Generation R Study (2012‐2016), a population‐based cohort study in the Netherlands. Indicators of sociodemographic factors included parental educational level, net household income, financial difficulties, parental employment status and child ethnic background. Current asthma (yes/no) was defined as ever doctor‐diagnosed‐asthma combined with wheezing symptoms or asthma‐medication use in the past 12 months. Lung function was measured by spirometry and included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and forced expiratory flow after exhaling 75% of FVC (FEF75). Within‐study sex‐, height‐ and age‐adjusted lung function measurements’ z‐scores were converted.ResultsAfter adjustment for all sociodemographic factors, an independent association was observed between ethnic background with current asthma and lung function. Compared with children with a Dutch background, children with a nonwestern ethnic background had a higher odds of having current asthma (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.53), lower FVC z‐score (−0.25, 95% CI: −0.35, −0.14), higher FEV1/FVC z‐score (0.26, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.37) and higher FEF75% z‐score (0.15, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.25).ConclusionsAmong 10‐year‐old children, ethnic background was associated with current asthma and lung function after adjusting for a wide range of sociodemographic factors. No associations were found between socioeconomic status indicators and current asthma. Explanations for these associations such as language barriers, suboptimal care or pathophysiological differences require further investigation.
Highlights
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide.[1]
We explored the associations between family socioeconomic status (SES), ethnic background and the lung function measurements’ z-scores
We explored the associations between each SES indicator separately and asthma-related outcomes adjusting for ethnic background
Summary
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide.[1]. According to phase III (2000-2003) of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), the global prevalence rate of ever had asthma was 13.8% among 13-14-year old children, while the prevalence rate was even higher in western Europe, namely 16.3%.1 Childhood asthma is related to school absenteeism, psychosocial problems, life-threatening exacerbations and impaired quality of life.[2,3] Previous studies[4,5,6] suggested that having a low family socioeconomic status (SES) and an ethnic minority background is associated with asthma-related outcomes. Childhood asthma is related to school absenteeism, psychosocial problems, life-threatening exacerbations and impaired quality of life.[2,3] Previous studies[4,5,6] suggested that having a low family socioeconomic status (SES) and an ethnic minority background is associated with asthma-related outcomes. We aimed to assess which sociodemographic factors are associated with current asthma and indicators of lung function in 10-year-old children. Indicators of sociodemographic factors included parental educational level, net household income, financial difficulties, parental employment status and child ethnic background. Results: After adjustment for all sociodemographic factors, an independent association was observed between ethnic background with current asthma and lung function. Conclusions: Among 10-year-old children, ethnic background was associated with current asthma and lung function after adjusting for a wide range of sociodemographic factors. Explanations for these associations such as language barriers, suboptimal care or pathophysiological differences require further investigation
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