Asthma control in children is associated with nasal symptoms, obesity, and health insurance: a nationwide survey

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Ferreira Magalhaes, M (Author) Other; Pereira, AM (Author) Other; Sa Sousa, A (Author) FMUP; Morais Almeida, M (Author) Other; Inês Azevedo (Author) FMUP; Azevedo L (Author) FMUP; Fonseca, J (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Vol. 26

Pages: 466-473

ISSN: 0905-6157

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-DTB

DOI: 10.1111/pai.12395

Abstract (EN): BackgroundThis study aimed to estimate the prevalence of asthma control and determinants of poor control in the Portuguese pediatric population (<18years); secondarily, we described asthma-related healthcare services and medication use. MethodsData of 98 children with current asthma, from the second phase of a nationwide population-based telephone survey (INAsma study), were analyzed. Asthma control definition was based on GINA criteria, grouping partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma as not-controlled asthma' (NCA). We used multivariate logistic regression to study factors associated with NCA and with unscheduled medical visits for asthma. ResultsAbout half of the children had NCA (49%, 95% CI 39-59%). In the multivariate model, risk factors for NCA were as follows: substantial nasal symptoms (aOR 6.80), overweight/obesity (aOR 3.44), and not having health insurance (aOR 3.78). All the children with NCA had nasal symptoms, and the lack of asthma control was also associated with the increasing number of nasal symptoms (p<0.001). In the previous year, 90% (95% CI 84-96%) of children with current asthma had healthcare visits and 67% (95% CI 58-77%) used medication for asthma. The risk of unscheduled medical visits was higher in children with nasal symptoms (aOR 3.63) and in those without health insurance (aOR 2.79), and lower in adolescents (aOR 0.19). ConclusionsHalf of the children with asthma were poorly controlled. Nasal symptoms and obesity are important determinants of asthma control. Children without health insurance are at greater risk of poor asthma outcomes; this association is reported for the first time in a European country.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8