Active, passive, and electronic cigarette smoking is associated with asthma in adolescents

Abstract

The present study investigated the associations of active, passive, and electronic cigarette (E-cigarette) smoking with asthma in Korean adolescents. We used the cross-sectional study of Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey conducted in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Active smoking was classified into 4 groups (0 days, 1–5 days, 6–19 days, and ≥20 days a month). Passive smoking was also categorized into 4 groups (0 days, 1–2 days, 3–4 days, and ≥5 days a week). E-cigarette was defined as yes or no in the last 30 days. Age, sex, obesity, region of residence, economic level, and parental educational level were adjusted for as confounders. Smoking variables were adjusted for one another. Adjusted odd ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis with complex sampling. In total, 2.3% (4,890/216,056) of participants reported asthma in the past 12 months. Active smoking was significantly associated with asthma (AOR [95% CI] of smoking ≥20 days/month = 1.57 [1.38–1.77], P < 0.001). Passive smoking was also related with asthma (AOR [95% CI] of smoking ≥5 days/week = 1.40 [1.28–1.53], P < 0.001). E-cigarette showed positive relation with asthma, although the effects of past smoking history could not be excluded (AOR [95% CI] = 1.12 [1.01–1.26], P = 0.027).

The Burden of Pediatric Asthma

“…Lastly, a new threat to the respiratory health of children and adolescents has been raised from the spread of electronic cigarettes, the most commonly used tobacco product among adolescents ( 41 ). Recent studies have shown an association with asthma symptoms in adolescents ( 42 , 43 ). Further research on the health effects of electronic cigarettes is advised.…”

Active and passive smoking impacts on asthma with quantitative and temporal relations: A Korean Community Health Survey

“…The participants were asked asthma-related questions, such as “Have you had wheezing or whistling in the chest in the past 12 months?”, “In the past 12 months, has your chest sounded wheezy during or after exercise?”, “Have you ever been diagnosed with asthma by a doctor?”, “In the past 12 months, have you been treated for asthma by a doctor?”, and “In the past 12 months, have you visited the emergency room or the hospital abruptly because of asthma symptoms?” Participant who has ever been diagnosed with asthma by a medical doctor were recorded as asthma ever as a previous study 26 . The current asthma was defined as a participant who has been treated for asthma by a doctor less than 1 year prior to the study as a previous study 26 .…”

Association of smoking and electronic cigarette use with wheezing and related respiratory symptoms in adults: cross-sectional results from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, wave 2

“…Maternal e-cigarettes use is highly likely to increase the risk of childhood wheezing and subsequent asthma in offspring 16. Significant associations between e-cigarettes use and asthma were reported in adolescents in Korea20 24 and Hawaii,22 although another study on 2086 adolescents did not find significant association between e-cigarettes use and wheezing 21. A previous study on 481 e-cigarettes online forum adult users found e-cigarette users reported wheezing symptoms 15.…”

“…Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the most common causes of recurrent wheezing 14. Several studies have focused on associations of e-cigarettes use with wheezing or whistling and reported mixed results 7–9 12 15–23. One study on 2086 Southern California Children’s Health Study adolescent participants found e-cigarettes use increased risks of chronic bronchitis symptoms in teens while no significant association of e-cigarettes use with wheeze were found in teens after adjusting for cigarettes use 21.…”