title: [Determinants of asthma among children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the German Health and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)].
abstract: In this study, associations between current asthma and possible determinants were studied using data of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents ("Studie zur Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland," KiGGS). In this nationwide cross-sectional survey, 17,461 subjects aged 0-17 years were examined between 2003 and 2006. Data collection included a medical examination of the child, an interview of the parents, and written questionnaires. Apart from prevalence estimates, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Increasing age and male sex, previous atopic diseases of the child, a positive family history of allergic diseases and low birth weight were significant risk factors of asthma, as were overweight and moldy walls in the residence. Breast feeding was not associated with a reduced risk of asthma. Low age at delivery of the mother and living in rural or provincial regions were shown to be protected. Overall, this study suggests that allergies of the parents and previous atopic disease of the child are the strongest determinants of asthma. However, environmental factors (mold on walls, living in rural and provincial towns) and lifestyle factors could also modify asthma risk.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsberichterstattung, Fachgebiet Epidemiologie nicht übertragbarer Erkrankungen, Robert Koch-Institut, General-Pape-Str. 62-66, 12101, Berlin, Deutschland. laussmannd@rki.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laussmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haftenberger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Langen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors