Risk factors for asthma in adolescents in a large urban region of Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Identify risk factors for asthma in adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
total of 528 adolescents (141 asthmatics, 387 control subjects) from the ISAAC study (phase III) were submitted to a complementary questionnaire to evaluate risk factors, through response to questions regarding personal history, environment, and diet and an agreement to undergo the skin prick test (SPT) for aeroallergens.


RESULTS
Positive SPT to at least one allergen occurred in 49.4% adolescents. The risk factors for asthma were: prematurity (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.54-9.64), rhinitis (OR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.71-5.91), positivity in the SPT (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.48-5.32), eczema in characteristic skin-folds (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.13-7.26), and an allergic mother (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.02-3.93). The consumption of cooked vegetables was a protective factor for asthma (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18-0.79)


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma is a multifatorial disease. An allergic mother, aeroallergen sensitization, rhinitis, eczema and prematurity were considered risk factors and the consumption of cooked vegetables was considered a protective factor for asthma in this population.
Pastorino
Antonio C
AC
Departamento de Pediatria, Instituto da Criança, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade São Paulo, Brazil. acpastorino@uol.com.br
Rimazza
Rejane D C
RD
Leone
Cláudio
C
Castro
Ana Paula M
AP
Solé
Dirceu
D
Jacob
Cristina M A
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D014504:Urban Health
D000485:Allergens