Prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease, in 6–11 year olds in Manchester

Abstract

Aims: This paper describes the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease in 6-11 year old children in an historical cohort study. Methods:The study included 5086 children, all born in the same maternity unit in the north west of England over a four-year period. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease were determined by the use of parent-completed questionnaires. Skin prick tests were used to ascertain atopic status. Results:The response was 47.5%. The prevalence of wheeze, asthma medication use and atopic sensitisation were 20.3%, 16.2% and 37.1% respectively. Wheeze and atopy were significantly more prevalent in boys (22.4% versus 17.9% and 43.0% versus 29.3%, respectively).Conclusions: This study identified a high prevalence of respiratory disease in this population and provides a baseline for monitoring trends in respiratory disease in 6-11 year old children.

Effects of parental smoking and indoor tobacco smoke exposure on respiratory outcomes in children

“…However, a pooled analysis of 53 879 children from 12 cross-sectional studies found strong evidence linking nocturnal cough to smoking during pregnancy, smoking during the first two years and parental current smoking 1 . A study in Manchester reported a statistically significant increase in the risk of night cough for children who lived with smokers in a household (aOR 1.45 95% CI 1.20-1.75) 41 .…”

Age‐related changes in childhood wheezing characteristics: A whole population study

“…As in other studies such as the ISAAC, we addressed questions to parents of younger children and directly to older children (from age 14 onwards). A sensitivity analysis in those aged [14][15][16][17] suggests that this did not affect the results much. As in most other studies, 3,4 we assessed symptom prevalence retrospectively over the last 12 months; but our questions on wheeze had a good repeatability when asked again 3 months later.…”

“…Furthermore, the presence of trigger factors also was agedependent. Wheeze with exercise was reported for 8-9% of children until age 9, then became more frequent, reaching 13% in adolescents ( (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37) (Continues) 3% at age 3-4, and again became slightly more common in adolescence (6% at age [14][15][16][17].…”

“…However, this has not been well quantified. Most studies have focused on one or two age groups, typically on schoolchildren who are 6‐7 and 13‐14 years old, as in the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), or, less often, preschool children . No study to our knowledge has shown the change in the clinical picture of wheezing illness from the first years of life throughout childhood.…”

“…Most studies have focused on one or two age groups, typically on schoolchildren who are 6-7 and 13-14 years old, as in the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), 3,13 or, less often, preschool children. 12,[14][15][16] No study to our knowledge has shown the change in the clinical picture of wheezing illness from the first years of life throughout childhood. This paper describes prevalence of wheezing illness during the entirety of childhood, from age 1 to 18 years, in a population-based cohort.…”