Secondhand smoke exposure and asthma outcomes among African-American and Latino children with asthma

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2018

Publication Title

Thorax

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposures have been linked to asthma-related outcomes but quantitative dose-responses using biomarkers of exposure have not been widely reported.

OBJECTIVES: Assess dose-response relationships between plasma cotinine-determined SHS exposure and asthma outcomes in minority children, a vulnerable population exposed to higher levels of SHS and under-represented in the literature.

METHODS: We performed analyses in 1172 Latino and African-American children with asthma from the mainland USA and Puerto Rico. We used logistic regression to assess relationships of cotinine levels ≥0.05 ng/mL with asthma exacerbations (defined as asthma-related hospitalisations, emergency room visits or oral steroid prescription) in the previous year and asthma control. The shape of dose-response relationships was assessed using a continuous exposure variable in generalised additive logistic models with penalised splines.

RESULTS: The OR for experiencing asthma exacerbations in the previous year for cotinine levels ≥0.05 ng/mL, compared with

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to SHS was associated with higher odds of asthma exacerbations and having poorly controlled asthma with an increasing dose-response even at low levels of exposure. Our results support the conclusion that there are no safe levels of SHS exposures.

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent; African Americans; Asthma; Child; Female; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Incidence; Male; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; United States; Young Adult

PubMed ID

29899038

Volume

73

Issue

11

First Page

1041

Last Page

1048

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