The influence of childhood asthma on puberty and height in Swedish adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Evidence relating to the effect of asthma on puberty or height is inconclusive. We aimed to examine whether the exposure of childhood asthma, including timing and phenotypes, and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use is either cross-sectionally or longitudinally associated with the outcomes of pubertal staging or height.


METHODS
This study employed data from a longitudinal, population-based cohort of Swedish children (born 1994-1996). At ages 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 years, parent-reported data on asthma and ICS use in the previous 12 months were collected. At 8 and 12 years, height was ascertained at a clinical visit, and child-reported, respectively. At 12 years, children answered puberty-related questions.


RESULTS
Retention through 12 years was 82% (3366/4089). Participants without puberty data (n = 620) were excluded, yielding a study population of 2746 (67%). Asthma at 8 years, including timing of onset and phenotypes, was not statistically significantly associated with pubertal staging in adjusted models. Children with asthma averaged 0.93 cm (95% CI 0.35-1.50) shorter than children without asthma. Children with asthma using ICS were 1.28 (95% CI 0.62-1.95) shorter than those with asthma without using ICS.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no consistent association between asthma and pubertal staging. Children with asthma were shorter than those without asthma. Moreover, children with asthma using ICS were shorter than those not using ICS.
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Jennifer Lisa Penner
JL
Protudjer
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cecilia
C
Lundholm
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anna
A
Bergström
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Sachs' Children's Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Inger
I
Kull
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Lung and Allergy Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Catarina
C
Almqvist
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
BAMSE; adolescence; asthma; glucocorticoids; height; puberty