title: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide in Chinese children with asthma and allergies--a two-city study.
abstract: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Our aim was to study associations between FeNO in Chinese children in two cities and asthma, asthmatic symptoms, rhinitis, eczema, and selected childhood and home environmental factors. A random sample of children in Shanghai (n = 187) and Taiyuan (n = 127), and additional randomly selected children reporting current wheeze (n = 115) were invited for FeNO measurements by NIOX MINO. A questionnaire survey was performed among all subjects (12-14 y) in 59 classes in Shanghai and 44 in Taiyuan. Associations were studied using multiple linear regression using 10log transformed FeNO data and mutual adjustment. The geometric mean FeNO in the random sample (GM ± GSD) was higher in Shanghai (16.2 ± 1.9 ppb) as compared to Taiyuan (12.8 ± 1.6 ppb) (P < 0.001). In the total material (n = 429), Shanghai residency (P = 0.001), male gender (P = 0.02), parental asthma/allergy (P = 0.04), doctors' diagnosed asthma (DDA) (P < 0.001) and current wheeze (P < 0.001) were associated with higher FeNO levels. In non-wheezers (n = 291), Shanghai residency (P = 0.007), male gender (P = 0.002), DDA (P = 0.04), current rhinitis (P = 0.004) and reported pollen/furry pet allergy (P = 0.04) were positively associated with FeNO. In wheezers (n = 138), DDA was the only significant factor (P = 0.009). In conclusion, male gender, current wheeze, DDA, parental asthma/allergy, current rhinitis, pollen/furry pet allergy can be independent determinants of increased FeNO. The lower level of FeNO in Taiyuan is in agreement with previous studies showing lower prevalence of asthma and allergy in Taiyuan as compared to Shanghai.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China. zhzhao@fudan.edu.cn
authors.forename: Zhuohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wieslander
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norback
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide