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Prevalence of asthma symptoms in schoolchildren, and climate in west European countries: an ecologic study

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the associations between the prevalence of asthma symptoms in schoolchildren and meteorological variables in west European countries that participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC), Phase III 1997–2003. An ecologic study was carried out. The prevalence of asthma was obtained from this study from 48 centers in 14 countries, and meteorological variables from those stations closest to ISAAC centers, together with other socioeconomic and health care variables. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were used. For schoolchildren aged 6–7 years, the prevalence rate of asthma decreased with an increase in mean annual sunshine hours, showed a positive association with rainy weather, and warm temperature, and a negative one with relative humidity and physician density (PD). Current wheeze prevalence was stronger in autumn/winter seasons and decreased with increasing PD. Severe current wheeze decreased with PD. For schoolchildren aged 13–14 years, the prevalence rates of asthma and current wheeze increased with rainy weather, and these rates decreased with increased PD. Current wheeze, as measured by a video questionnaire, was inversely associated with sunny weather, and nurse density. Severe current wheeze prevalence was stronger during autumn/winter seasons, decreased with PD, and indoor chlorinated public swimming pool density, and increased with rainy weather. Meteorological factors, including sunny and rainy weather, and PD may have some effect on the prevalence rates of asthma symptoms in children from west European countries.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the schoolchildren, adolescents and their parents of ISAAC Phase III in WE countries. We would also like to dedicate this paper to the memory of Prof. Dr. Stephan Weiland, sensible epidemiological mind, founder member of the ISAAC and kind father, who passed away in the prime of his life. He inspired the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Division, Public Health Center, Avda del Mar 12, 12003, Castellón, Spain

    Alberto Arnedo-Pena

  2. Pediatric Respiratory and Allergy units, “Arrixaca” University Children’s Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Luis García-Marcos

  3. Buelna Health Center, Cantabria, Spain

    Alberto Bercedo-Sanz

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain

    Inés Aguinaga-Ontoso

  5. Pediatric Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Basurto Hospital, Bilbao, Spain

    Carlos González-Díaz

  6. Concinos Health Center, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

    Águeda García-Merino

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Rosa Busquets-Monge

  8. Public and Environmental Health Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, and CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Valencia, Spain

    Maria Morales Suárez-Varela

  9. Pediatric Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Torrecárdenas Hospital, Almería, Spain

    Juan Batlles-Garrido

  10. Department of Pediatrics, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

    Alfredo A. Blanco-Quirós

  11. María José Jove Foundation, La Coruña, Spain

    Angel López-Silvarrey

  12. Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit. “12 de Octubre”, University Children’s Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    Gloria García-Hernández

  13. “Perpetuo Socorro” Health Center, Huesca, Spain

    Jorge Fuertes

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  1. Alberto Arnedo-Pena
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  2. Luis García-Marcos
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Correspondence to Alberto Arnedo-Pena.

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Arnedo-Pena, A., García-Marcos, L., Bercedo-Sanz, A. et al. Prevalence of asthma symptoms in schoolchildren, and climate in west European countries: an ecologic study. Int J Biometeorol 57, 775–784 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0606-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0606-y

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