Infectious Disease

Study links childhood asthma to negative long-term effects on socio-economic status

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Schyllert does not disclose any relevant financial information. Please refer to the study for all relevant financial information from the other authors.

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In a new study, childhood asthma has been linked to low levels of education in young adulthood, researchers reported in the journal Respiratory Medicine.

“There are limited and conflicting results on how childhood asthma affects socioeconomic status in adulthood,” Christian Schyllert, researcher in the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine in the Sustainable Health Department of the OLIN Unit at Umeå University, Sweden , and colleagues wrote in respiratory medicine. … “The aim of this population-based, prospective study is therefore to investigate whether asthma with onset in childhood and adolescence is associated with socio-economic status based on the educational and professional status of young adults.”

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The study enrolled 2,017 participants from the obstructive pulmonary disease studies in northern Sweden. All participants were enrolled in childhood and followed up annually through the ages of 19 and 28 when data were collected on socioeconomic status including educational level, occupation, and occupational exposure to gas, dust, and / or smoke. Asthma was categorized as onset in childhood (up to age 12) or as adolescent (ages 12 to 19).

Almost 13% of the participants had childhood or adolescent asthma (7.8% childhood asthma, 5% adolescent asthma).

For half of the participants, compulsory school or upper secondary education was the highest educational qualification. Women were more likely to have a higher level of education than men.

Childhood asthma was associated with compulsory schooling as the highest level of education at the age of 28, after adjustment for factors such as BMI, gender and smoking at the age of 19 as well as socio-economic factors during childhood (OR = 4.84; 95% CI, 2nd , 01.). -11.65), according to the results. This association was the feminine among men and women under the age of 28.

Participants with childhood asthma were more likely to work in manual activities (OR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.56-1.55) than in administrative or managerial positions, while those with adolescent asthma were more likely to work in administrative and managerial positions in higher education worked (OR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.19-1.22) and no manual activities.

According to the results, the researchers found no association between childhood or adolescent asthma and socioeconomic groups, occupational groups, or occupational exposure to gas, dust and / or smoke by the age of 28.

“While asthma is a known disease, the potential adverse long-term effects of asthma in children on socioeconomic status, particularly educational attainment, should not be underestimated,” the researchers write.

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