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Secondhand smoke exposure doubles hospitalization rate among children with asthma
Children with asthma who were exposed to secondhand smoke appeared nearly twice as likely as unexposed children to be hospitalized with exacerbation symptoms, according to a systematic review.
“Previous studies have linked secondhand smoke exposure with increased asthma prevalence, poorer asthma control and increased symptoms,” Zhen Wang, PhD, of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said in a press release. “We wanted to quantify the strength of the association, and to show just how much greater the risk is of hospitalization for kids with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home.”
Wang and colleagues performed a systematic review of studies that analyzed children with asthma who were exposed to secondhand smoke, with outcomes showing asthma severity and exacerbation symptoms. Researchers identified 25 studies with primary outcomes such as hospitalization, ED or urgent care visits, wheeze symptoms, pulmonary function test results and severe asthma symptoms.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke were nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for their asthma than unexposed children (OR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.2-2.86). Children exposed to secondhand smoke also demonstrated a significantly higher rate of wheeze symptoms (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.24-1.41), a significantly higher rate of ED or urgent care visits (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02-2.69), and a lower rate of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (OR = –3.34; 95% CI, –5.35 to –1.33).
“The study … illustrates the increased burden of disease on the health care system with increased rates of hospitalization,” Avni Y. Joshi, MD, MSc, pediatric allergist and immunologist at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, said in a press release. “The children are missing school if they are hospitalized, and the parents miss work. It is a big financial burden for the family, as well as for society. A child being hospitalized has a high risk of hospital-acquired infection, so I think this is fairly serious.” – by Jeff Craven
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.