title: Factors associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness in Australian adults and children.
abstract: To accurately assess putative risk factors for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), we have used multivariate models to analyse data from 4,366 children living in four regions and from 878 adults. A standard protocol was used to measure bronchial responsiveness to histamine. The prevalence of BHR was high at 7-9 yrs (16-18%), decreased significantly at 11-14 yrs (7-8%), and then increased in adults (12-14%). Atopy was the most important risk factor for BHR at all ages. In children, parental asthma, early respiratory illness and being born in Australia also had a significant influence, and eating fish more than once a week had a protective effect. No effect of parental smoking, gender or race was found. In adults, BHR was associated with being female and with smoking history. It appears that many factors have a significant influence on the presence of BHR, with environmental factors, particularly atopy, birthplace and diet, being the most important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Peat
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salome
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Woolcock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology