Aim

To investigate a possible association of asthma prevalence in schoolchildren aged 7-14 years in relation to their tobacco smoke exposure.

Methods

Case-control study was realized at the Public Health Centre in the City of Novi Sad, the Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia, between 2003 and 2005 and included 504 participants. The study explored the relation between asthma in children and tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy, the first year of life and/or onwards. The reports on smoking exposure were obtained by a questionnaire.

Results

The cases comprised 252 schoolchildren with asthma confirmed by the specialist. The controls (n=252) were respectively matched by age, gender and place of residence, selected from children's classmates, without any diagnostic or anamnestic records of asthma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified one positive characteristic associated with asthma occurrence in children - current environmental tobacco smoke exposure by persons other than parents (p=0.0132).

Conclusions

The smoking habit has an influence on risk factors for the development of asthma in childhood and indicates a need of deeper understanding of lifestyle in asthma occurrence in children.