Risk Factors of Childhood Asthma Among Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre in North-East India

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic lung illness marked by a reversible airway blockage. Both genetic and environmental factors influence higher asthma rates. The present study aims to assess the various socio-demographic and environmental factors influencing the causation of childhood asthma among patients attending the Paediatric Department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Assam.

Materials and methods: A total of 150 clinically diagnosed asthma patients of 3-12 years as cases and patients of the same age group free from respiratory diseases with no history of asthma in a 1:1 ratio as controls were selected. A predesigned and pretested proforma was used to collect data, and written informed consent was obtained from all the legal guardians of the participants. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and binary logistic regression using SPSS V20, considering a p-value <0.05 significant.

Results: Urban and male children were found to be at higher risk of developing asthma. Children belonging to the urban locality (OR= 4.53; 95% CI: 1.57-13.09; p<0.05), damp environment (OR= 5.21; 95% CI: 1.23-22.10; p<0.05), lower socioeconomic status (OR= 3.48; 95% CI: 1.34-9.01; p<0.05), presence of pets (OR= 6.77; 95% CI: 1.76-25.99; p<0.05), family history of atopy/ allergy (OR= 43.29; 95% CI: 5.80-323.15 p<0.05), smoking/passive smoking (OR=23.54; 95% CI: 1.41-394.21 p<0.05) and mixed feeding (OR= 4.47; 95% CI: 1.46-13.63 p<0.05) were the significant risk factors of childhood asthma.

Conclusion: Children are vulnerable to environmental-induced asthma. Awareness and preventive measures are necessary to control and reduce the burden of childhood asthma.