[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.
Arnedo
Alberto
A
Sección de Epidemiología, Centro Salud Pública, Castellón, España. arnedo_alb@gva.es
Bellido
Juan B
JB
Pac
María Rosario
MR
Artero
Adrián
A
Campos
Joan-Baptista
JB
Museros
Lidón
L
Puig-Barberà
Joan
J
Tosca
Ricardo
R
Tornador
Ester
E
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