Effects of tobacco smoke exposure on asthma prevalence and medical care use in North Carolina middle school children.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and childhood cigarette smoking on asthma symptoms among middle school children in North Carolina.


METHODS
During 1999-2000, information was collected from a survey completed by the children. Outcomes of asthma symptom reporting were regressed on tobacco smoke exposures.


RESULTS
Children who currently smoked or reported any exposure to ETS were at increased risk of reporting active asthma symptoms. Exposure to ETS and childhood cigarette smoking was responsible for 15% of the asthma cases observed in the study population and $1.34 million in excess medical expenditures.


CONCLUSIONS
Even at low levels of exposure, childhood cigarette smoking and ETS are independently associated with asthmatic symptoms.
Sturm
Jesse J
JJ
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. jsturm1@jhmi.edu
Yeatts
Karin
K
Loomis
Dana
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution