Bronchial asthma in pre-school children living in urban areas of the Altay Krai: a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate prevalence, clinical and allergological features, and risk factors of bronchial asthma in pre-school children living in urban areas of Altay Krai. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study involving 3,205 children (age, 3 to 6 years) attending pre-school facilities in 5 cities of the Altay Krai. Asthma symptoms were defined using the ISAAC questionnaire. Asthma was diagnosed by clinicians according to GINA. Results. Prevalence of asthma in urban children aged 3 to 6 years was 5.7%; 62.7% of them were previously diagnosed with asthma. Majority of children (59.4%) had mild asthma. Sensitization was detected in 70.3% of children with asthma, most of them were sensitized to dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (63.3%), birch pollen (46.6%), and cat epithelium (31.1%). Risk factors of asthma were family history of allergy [odds ratio (OR) 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2–4.6], male gender (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–2.3), preterm birth (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.3), smoking parents (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.9), (contact with pets during the first year of life (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–2.0). Conclusion. The prevalence of asthma in urban children aged 3 to 6 years living in urban areas of Altay Krai was 5.7%. Most common sensitizers were house dust mites, birch pollen and cat epithelium. The risk factors of pre-school asthma are family history of allergy, male gender, preterm birth, passive smoking and contact with pets during the first year of life.