This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Children with asthma exposed to SHS more likely experience comorbidities

Children with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to be obese, according to study results.

The researchers reported that children exposed to smoke are also more likely to have severe asthma and use health care less.

Regan C. Pyle, DO, division of allergic diseases at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues conducted a retrospective nested matched case-and-control study on 944 children aged 5 to 18 years enrolled in the Pediatric Asthma Management Program to identify the difference in comorbidities between children with asthma exposed or not exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS).

Children with asthma exposed to SHS had a higher overall BMI percentile (69.7) than children not exposed to SHS (63.1) (OR = 3.04; 95% CI, 2.3-10.9).

The researchers reported that children without exposure to SHS (30%) had mild to persistent asthma more than those exposed (23%) to SHS (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49-0.98).

The researchers also noted that children exposed to SHS did not use health care as much as children not exposed to SHS.

Children not exposed to SHS underwent methacholine challenges (47%) more often than children exposed to SHS (30%) (OR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.36-0.68).

Also, children exposed to SHS did not receive the influenza vaccine (47%) as much as children not exposed to SHS (65%) (OR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45-0.82).

The researchers stressed the importance for physicians to not only assess asthma severity and control but also body weight, environmental exposures and emotional well-being because of the possible effects on asthma status of the child.

“Smoking cessation intervention with motivational counseling alone might be insufficient in the pediatric setting, and a comprehensive family-based program consisting of motivational counseling and referral to a smoking cessation specialist and pharmacotherapy should be integral to care for children with SHS exposure,” the researchers wrote. – by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.