Does passive smoking increase the frequency of health service contacts in children with asthma

摘要: BACKGROUND—Passive smoking is a major cause of respiratory morbidity in children. However, few studies give accurate estimates the health effects passive children with asthma using an objective measure exposure. The salivary cotinine levels to exposure were investigated. METHODS—A sample 438 aged 2-12 years who had parent smoked recruited Tayside and Fife, Scotland. Health service contacts for asthma, assessed from GP case records, used as proxy morbidity. RESULTS—A weak U-shaped relationship was found between level asthma: compared low those moderate reduced contact rate (relative (RR) = 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 1.05), whereas high associated increased (RR 1.19, CI 1.05 1.37). In contrast, strong association seen amount reported front child: higher fewer visits made everyday 0.66, 0.56 0.77). This effect not non-respiratory visits. Demographic factors, age child, number family all powerful on asthma. parents' perception severity visit frequency independent actual (derived drug treatment). CONCLUSION—High parental home are reduction care could be due lack awareness symptoms among heavy smokers or reluctance GP. Children have parents smoke heavily may receiving adequate management.