The shifting prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in US children

Abstract

BackgroundAsthma is a chronic lung disease that affected 5 million children. Allergy is a common comorbidity of asthma. Having both conditions is associated with unfavorable health outcomes and impaired quality of life. ObjectivePurpose of this study was to assess allergy and its association with asthma by select characteristics among children to determine differences by populations. MethodsNational Health Interview Survey data (2007-2018) were used to assess asthma and allergy status, trends, and the association between allergy and asthma by select characteristics among US children (aged 0-17 years). ResultsPrevalence of asthma decreased among all children (slope [−] P < .001) and among those with allergy (slope [−] P = .002). More children had respiratory allergy (14.7%), followed by skin allergy (12.7%) and food allergy (6.4%). Prevalence of respiratory allergy significantly decreased among White non-Hispanic children (slope [−] P = .002), food allergy increased among White non-Hispanic (slope [+] P < .001) and Hispanic children (slope [+] P = .003), and skin allergy increased among Hispanic children (slope [+] P = .04).Depending on number and type, children with allergy were 2 to 8 times (skin allergy only and having all 3 allergies, respectively) more likely to have current asthma than were children without allergy. Among children with current asthma, having any allergy was significantly associated with missed school days (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.33 [1.03-1.72]; P = .02) and taking preventive medication daily (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.89 [1.32-2.71]; P < .001). ConclusionTrends in allergies across years differed by race and ethnicity. Strength of association between asthma and allergy differed by type and number of allergies, being highest among children having all 3 types of allergies. Having both asthma and allergy was associated with unfavorable asthma outcomes.