Frequency of risk-factors at the beginning of illness children sick with asthma [Article in Bosnian]

Abstract

Objective - The research was undertaken with the goal of examining the frequency of genetic predisposition, exposure to tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, obesity, poor accommodation conditions, number of family members and antibiotic usage in children who fell sick with asthma at the time of diagnosis.

Material and methods - By retrospective analysis of the medical documentation were analyzed of 277 patients at the Paediatric Clinic and patients from 13 Community Health Centres in the Tuzla Canton Region. The diagnosis of asthma was made on the basis of the Global initiative for asthma. In relation to age when the diagnosis was made the respondents were divided into the following groups: age 0-4.9, 5-9,9 and 10-14 years. The control group was made up of 150 respondents of both sexes, chosen at random. They fulfilled the following criteria: to be closely the same age and sex as the respondents who suffered from asthma, did not have asthma or other allergic diseases, and that they are residents of the Tuzla Canton Region. For testing the statistical significance of the differences among the questioned variables in the questioned group and control group the χ2 test was used.

Results - A statistically significantly higher frequency of genetic predisposition (χ2 = 20.81; p < 0,0001) and exposure to tobacco smoke (χ2 = 12.2; p = 0.0005) was found in respondents with asthma in relation to respondents from the control group. There was a statistically significantly smaller number of families with four and more members (χ2 = 71.2; p < 0.0001) in the respondents with asthma in relation to respondents from the control group. No statistically significantly difference was determined in antibiotic usage, frequency of respiratory infections, increased body mass index and living conditions among children with asthma and the control group.

Conclusion - Our results confirm more frequent cases of asthma with children having a genetic predisposition. The other most prominent factors were exposure to tobacco smoke and children with fewer family members.