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Background: Studies of association among parental atopy, tobacco exposure (passive or active) and adult asthma have provided conflicting results., Objective: To determine the relationship among parental atopy, smoking, exposure to tobacco smoke, allergic rhinitis, work environment and asthma in adults., Material and Methods: In a population of 329,219 inhabitants of a geographically defined area in Northeastern of Mexico, we identified 791 cases of asthma. The patients were 20 to 54 years old, and were divided in three groups: with asthma in remission (263 patients), with symptoms since childhood (270 patients), and with asthma onset in adult age (258 patients). We included 793 randomly selected control subjects. Information on family atopy, passive and active smoking, allergic rhinitis and workplace conditions were collected by using a questionnaire., Results: Parental atopy history, active smoking, allergic rhinitis and pollution in the workplace induce asthma symptoms. Exposure to smoking is a risk factor of persistence of asthma symptoms in adults (OR = 1.33; IC 95%, 1.07-1.66), but no of their development (OR = 1.10; IC 95%, 0.87-1.39). Working in a polluted environment had not significance in remission of asthma (OR =1.32; IC 95%, 0.95-1.85)., Conclusions: Results support hypothesis that family atopy, active smoke, allergic rhinitis and pollution favor the persistence of asthma symptoms and increase the risk of asthma in adults.

Objective: The relationships between asthma in adolescents and various environmental and social exposures needs to be clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the association between family history of allergy, passive or active tobacco smoking, obesity, and asthma in adolescents., Subjects and Methods: A population-based case-control study was carried out. A random sample of 4003 students aged 13 to 18 years old was selected from secondary and preparatory schools in an urban area in northeastern Mexico. Data was gathered in physical examinations and with a questionnaire administered by trained staff. Two study groups were formed: a group of 253 adolescents with asthma and a control group of students without asthma., Results: Variables associated with asthma were family history of allergy (odds ratio [OR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-2.06), passive smoking (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.18-1.99), and obesity (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.45-2.65). Female gender and active smoking were unrelated to asthma. The percentage of obese adolescents was higher in the group of asthmatics (18.2%) than in the control group (12.8%)., Conclusions: Family history of allergy, passive tobacco smoking, and obesity seem to be the main risk factors for the development of asthma in adolescents. The relationship of active smoking and asthma requires further study.

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