title: Cross-sectional survey of risk factors for asthma in 6-7-year-old children in New Zealand: International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood Phase Three.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify risk factors for asthma in primary school-aged children in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 10,873 6-7-year-old children in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Christchurch (a response rate of 85.2%). A questionnaire was completed by the parent or care giver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  22.2% of children wheezed in the last 12 months (current wheeze). Maori children were at greater risk of current wheeze compared with European children (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 1.37; 95% confidence interval = 1.18-1.59). Antibiotics and paracetamol used in the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.78 (1.56-2.04) and adjOR = 1.31 (1.06-1.61), respectively). Watching television for 5 or more hours per day was associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.44 (1.13-1.83)). Milk and egg consumption in the last 12 months was associated with a reduced risk of current wheeze.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has identified risk factors for asthma in children aged 6-7 years, although causal pathways cannot be established. These associations have important public health implications if causal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. e.mitchell@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Edwin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Alistair W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Tadd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: M Innes
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: Phillipa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ellwood
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moyes
authors.forename: Phillip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pattemore
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen