title: Ethnic variability in persistent asthma after in utero tobacco exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of in utero tobacco smoke exposure on childhood respiratory health have been investigated, and outcomes have been inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if in utero tobacco smoke exposure is associated with childhood persistent asthma in Mexican, Puerto Rican, and black children.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 295 Mexican, Puerto Rican, and black asthmatic children, aged 8 to 16 years, who underwent spirometry, and clinical data were collected from the parents during a standardized interview. The effect of in utero tobacco smoke exposure on the development of persistent asthma and related clinical outcomes was evaluated by logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with persistent asthma had a higher odds of exposure to in utero tobacco smoke, but not current tobacco smoke, than did children with intermittent asthma (odds ratio [OR]: 3.57; P = .029). Tobacco smoke exposure from parents in the first 2 years of life did not alter this association. Furthermore, there were higher odds of in utero tobacco smoke exposure in children experiencing nocturnal symptoms (OR: 2.77; P = .048), daily asthma symptoms (OR: 2.73; P = .046), and emergency department visits (OR: 3.85; P = .015) within the year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to tobacco smoke in utero was significantly associated with persistent asthma among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and black children compared with those with intermittent asthma. These results suggest that smoking cessation during pregnancy may lead to a decrease in the incidence of persistent asthma in these populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Kwei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akuete
authors.forename: Sam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thyne
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Santana
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapela
authors.forename: Kelley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Cintron
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LeNoir
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: L Keoki
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Pedro C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Esteban González
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Burchard
authors.forename: Haig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tcheurekdjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution