Reported Neighborhood Traffic and the Odds of Asthma/Asthma-Like Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Multi-Racial Cohort of Children

Abstract

Asthma in children poses a significant clinical and public health burden. We examined the association between reported neighborhood traffic (a proxy for traffic-related air pollution) and asthma among 855 multi-racial children aged 4–8 years old who participated in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort. We hypothesized that high neighborhood traffic density would be associated with the prevalence of asthma. Asthma/asthma-like symptoms (defined as current and/or past physician diagnosed asthma, past wheezing, or nighttime cough or wheezing in the past 12 months) was assessed by parental report. The relationship between neighborhood traffic and asthma/asthma-like symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of asthma/asthma-like symptoms among study participants was 23%, and 15% had high neighborhood traffic. Children with significant neighborhood traffic had a higher odds of having asthma/asthma-like symptoms than children without neighborhood traffic [adjusted OR = 2.01 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.62)] after controlling for child’s race-ethnicity, age, sex, maternal education, family history of asthma, play equipment in the home environment, public parks, obesity and prescribed asthma medication. Further characterization of neighborhood traffic is needed since many children live near high traffic zones and significant racial/ethnic disparities exist.

Paediatric asthma exacerbation admissions and stringency of non‐pharmaceutical interventions: Results from a developing country

“…Such factors, which may aggravate asthma symptoms and provoke exacerbation, are often thought of as airborne agents including inhaled allergens, respiratory infections, inhaled respiratory irritants, such vehicle exhausts and air pollutants, dry air, temperature and weather. Exposure to ambient air pollutants (such as particulate matter 2.5 and 10, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone) have also been associated with an increase in reports of wheeze and worsening of symptoms and hospitalisations for asthma 35‐37 . The potential impact of the reduction in vehicle emissions and closure of industrial institutions may have, then, improved air quality 23,24,38,39 and resulted in the observed results.…”

“…Exposure to ambient air pollutants (such as particulate matter 2.5 and 10, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone) have also been associated with an increase in reports of wheeze and worsening of symptoms and hospitalisations for asthma. [35][36][37] The potential impact of the reduction in vehicle emissions and closure of industrial institutions may have, then, improved air quality 23,24,38,39 and resulted in the observed results. As well, viral respiratory tract infections are the most common cause of wheezing illnesses in children.…”

Social determinants of health and asthma

“…Poverty has been extensively linked with increased asthma prevalence, emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations. People of lower socioeconomic status, particularly communities of colour, tend to live in areas with poor air quality [18][19][20] and high air pollution levels due to increased density of industrial sites [20,21], closer proximity to major roadways [20,[22][23][24] and bus depots [25]. Exposure to byproducts of fossil fuel combustion is linked with increased asthma prevalence [26], exacerbations [27][28][29][30][31] and reduced lung function [32][33][34][35].…”