[Incidence of asthma and risk factors in a cohort of schoolchildren aged from 6-7 years old to 14-15 years old in Castellón (Spain) following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence of asthma in schoolchildren from 6-7 years old to 14-15 years old and associated risk factors.


METHODS
A cohort study, with the ISAAC phases I and III in 1994 and 2002, respectively, was carried out in Castellón, and the nearby towns Vila-real, Almassora, Benicàssim, El Grau de Castelló, Borriol, and L'Alcora. In 1992, 3,607 schoolchildren aged 6-7 years old took part, of whom 1,805 were again studied in 2002, at the age of 14-15. New cases of asthma were defined following the ISAAC questionnaire. Poisson regression was used in the analysis of asthma risk factors.


RESULTS
Participation was 50.0%. The cumulative incidence of asthma was 6.4% during the 8 years of study, 108 new cases of 1,698 schoolchildren free of asthma at beginning. Incidence was greater in boys than girls, and in 14-year old teenagers compared to 15-year olds, although differences were not significant. Risk factors associated with the incidence of asthma were: family history of asthma, history of allergic rhinitis, history of bronchitis and upper-middle compared to lower social class.


CONCLUSIONS
A low incidence of asthma was found in schoolchildren from Castellón, Spain, in comparison with other cohort studies. Estimated risk factors were generally in accordance with incidence studies.
Sección de Epidemiología, Centro Salud Pública, Castellón, España. arnedo_alb@gva.es
Alberto
A
Arnedo
Juan B
JB
Bellido
María Rosario
MR
Pac
Adrián
A
Artero
Joan-Baptista
JB
Campos
Lidón
L
Museros
Joan
J
Puig-Barberà
Ricardo
R
Tosca
Ester
E
Tornador
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology