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Asthma Comorbidities: Frequency, Risk Factors, and Associated Burden in Children and Adolescents

Authors :
Salvatore Fasola
Giuliana Ferrante
Giovanna Cilluffo
Velia Malizia
Pietro Alfano
Laura Montalbano
Giuseppina Cuttitta
Stefania La Grutta
Source :
Children, Vol 9, Iss 7, p 1001 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Identifying asthma comorbidities in children is fundamental for improving disease management. We aimed to investigate the frequency of allergy-related comorbidities in children and adolescents with asthma, and to identify associated risk factors and disease burden. Between September 2015 and December 2018, 508 asthmatic patients (5–17 years) were consecutively enrolled. Parents answered a standardized questionnaire on the history of disease and risk factors. Comorbidities were classified based on the involvement of respiratory and/or extra-respiratory districts: asthma only (A, 13%), asthma with respiratory comorbidities (AR, 37%), asthma with extra-respiratory comorbidities (AER, 10%), and asthma with both respiratory and extra-respiratory comorbidities (ARER, 40%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that membership in the AR group was significantly associated with a maternal history of asthma (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.23–7.72), breastfeeding ≥ three months (OR = 1.92, 1.06–3.46), early mold exposure (OR = 2.39, 1.12–5.11), and current environmental tobacco smoke exposure (OR = 2.06, 1.11–3.83). Membership in the AER group was significantly associated with the female gender (OR = 3.43, 1.54–7.68), breastfeeding ≥ three months (OR = 2.77, 1.23–6.22). ARER was significantly associated with all the aforementioned exposures. Patients with AR reported exacerbations in the last 12 months more frequently (p = 0.009). Several personal and environmental risk factors are associated with comorbidities in asthmatic children and adolescents, possibly worsening the disease burden.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22279067
Volume :
9
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Children
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.f7b8a6b84b8d44e392be0e69b3e83d17
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/children9071001