title: Parental smoking and airway reactivity in healthy infants.
abstract: Parental tobacco smoking is associated with lower airway function and an increased incidence of wheezy respiratory illnesses in infants. We evaluated in 76 healthy infants whether exposure to parental tobacco smoking was associated with airway hyperreactivity, which could contribute to lower airway function and the increased wheezy illnesses. Airway function was measured using the raised-volume rapid thoracic compression technique, and airway reactivity was assessed by methacholine challenge (0.015-10 mg/ml), which was stopped for a more than 30% decrease in forced expiratory flow (FEF)(75) or the final dose with a less than 30% decrease. Parental tobacco smoking was associated with lower baseline airway function (FEF(50), 600 vs. 676 ml/second, p < 0.04; FEF(25-75), 531 vs. 597 ml/second, p < 0.05). Infants exposed to tobacco smoking were approximately half as likely to develop a more than 30% decline in FEF(75) at any given methacholine dose (hazard ratio = 0.4, p = 0.001). In addition, a history of asthma in an extended family member increased the likelihood that an infant would develop a more than 30% decline in FEF(75) (hazard ratio = 1.7, p = 0.04). We conclude that exposure to parental smoking is associated with lower airway function but not increased airway reactivity; however, family history of asthma is associated with heightened airway reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University Medical Center, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, 702 Barnhill Drive, ROC 4270, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA. rtepper@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.forename: Tamica
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Williams-Nkomo
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kisling
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daggy
mesh_terms: D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D010290:Parents; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D003367:Cotinine