title: [Atmospheric air pollution as a factor potentiating the risk of asthma in school children. Epidemiologic studies in Krakow].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of asthma in schoolchildren in relation to residency in areas with higher urban air pollution in Krakow. The material consisted of 1129 children aged 9 years among whom health survey based on standardized interviews with parents, together with anthropometry and spirometry has been carried out in 1995. In the asthmatic children allergy diagnosed by doctor was 4 times more prevalent (83.3% vs 20.2%) and asthma or allergy was twofold more prevalent in their biologic parents (42.6% vs 29.3%). The children with asthma resided more frequently in the city areas with the higher air pollution level (62.5% vs 46.2%). Mean spirometric values of FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75% I PEFR did not differ across the groups, however, FEV1/FVC% was significantly higher in nonasthmatic than in asthmatic groups (corresponding values in boys 90.9% vs 88.7%, in girls 92.7% vs 89.8%). After accounting for potential confounders (child's gender, education level of parents, environmental tobacco smoke, cigarette smoking of mothers in pregnancy and household standard) it was estimated from the multiple logistic regression that the separate effect of air pollution category was relatively small (OR = 2.27; 95%, CI = 1.11-3.93) in comparison with that of allergy (20.5; 95% CI = 9.40-44.7), however, combined effect of both risk factors on the occurrence of asthma in children was multiplicative.
authors.affiliation: Katedry Epidemiologii i Medycyny, Zapobiegawczej Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jedrychowski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flak
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mróz
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013147:Spirometry; D014504:Urban Health