Risk factors for reduced lung function in Australian Aboriginal children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of perinatal and childhood exposures on lung function in a cohort of Australian Aboriginal children.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 547 Northern Territory Aboriginal children, aged 8-14 years, belonging to a birth cohort. Assessment included physical examination and spirometry as well as retrospective review of centralised hospital records. The effect of select perinatal and childhood exposures on lung function outcomes (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 s (FEF25-75)) adjusted for age, sex, height and other measures of size was examined using multiple regression.


RESULTS
Non-urban residence (FEV1 -5% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.91-0.99), FVC -9% (95% CI 0.87-0.95)), current cough (FEV1 -6% (95% CI 0.91-0.97), FVC -4% (95% CI 0.93-0.97), FEF25-75 -8% (95% CI 0.86-0.98)) and hospitalisations for respiratory disease (FEV1 -10% (95% CI 0.86-0.95), FEF25-75 -12% (95% CI 0.70-0.87)) all had significant negative effects on adjusted lung function measures. Children with a non-Aboriginal ancestor had significantly better lung function. No perinatal exposure other than neonatal lung disease had any significant effect on adjusted lung function.


CONCLUSIONS
For Northern Territory Aboriginal children factors related to the childhood environment are more important than perinatal factors in determining childhood lung function.
Bucens
Ingrid K
IK
Health Alliance International, Dili, East Timor. ingbucens@hotmail.com
Reid
Alison
A
Sayers
Susan M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D015876:Northern Territory; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013147:Spirometry