Individual and family household smoking habits as risk factors for wheezing among adolescents.
BACKGROUND
The study aimed to evaluate the household smoking habits as risk factors for wheezing in adolescents.


METHODS
During a 2-month period, the study was performed by applying the standardized ISAAC phase 1 questionnaire to 3474 adolescents attending a random sample of secondary public schools located at the southeast of Mexico City. Adolescents were grouped as "cases" if they had at least one episode of wheezing in the year prior to the study, or as "controls" if they did not. Positive individual and family (father, mother or other persons living in the home) smoking habits at home were evaluated as potential risk factors.


RESULTS
More than 98% of respondents in the two groups reported that the father smoked in the house. More mothers who smoked were reported among cases than controls (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.60-3.68). More adolescents in the group of cases had history of ever having rhinitis, rash or wheezing. Fifty-four percent of adolescents in the group of cases had ever smoked versus 38.8% of controls (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.33-2.67). Sex-adjusted logistic regression analysis identified a "protective" role for wheezing when the number of smokers at home was < or =2 (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.27-0.71).


CONCLUSIONS
Individual, maternal and other family members' indoor smoking habits may increase the risk of wheezing among adolescents.
Morfín-Maciel
Blanca
B
Hospital Mocel, Gelati #29-304, San Miguel Chapultepec, México DF 11850, México. blancamorfin@hotmail.com
Barragán-Meijueiro
María de Las Mercedes
Mde L
Nava-Ocampo
Alejandro A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution