Prevalence and correlates of early onset asthma and wheezing in a healthy birth cohort of 2- to 3-year olds.
OBJECTIVE
The combined contribution of neonatal, perinatal, and maternal health, demographic, environmental, and family psychosocial factors to early onset asthma and wheezing in a healthy birth cohort was examined.


METHODS
Participants included 1,158 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse parents of 2- and 3-year olds who completed mailed questionnaires.


RESULTS
Asthma and wheezing prevalence was 8.4 and 8.1%, respectively. Asthma during pregnancy, smoking in the home, and being male increased risk for asthma diagnosis and wheezing whereas social support minimized risk for both. Shorter gestational age, exposure to violence, and maternal anxiety increased risk for wheezing. The negative impact of smoking in the home was greatest for children with shorter gestational ages and mothers with asthma during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings confirm and extend previous work documenting demographic risks and highlight smoking, violent events, and social support in early onset asthma and wheezing. Findings illustrate the need for ecologically based interventions to treat asthma and wheezing in young children.
Berz
Jennifer Bender
JB
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3393, USA.
Carter
Alice S
AS
Wagmiller
Robert L
RL
Horwitz
Sarah M
SM
Murdock
Karla Klein
KK
Briggs-Gowan
Margaret
M
D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution