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Is the increase in childhood asthma coming to an end? Findings from three surveys of schoolchildren in Rome, Italy

R. Ronchetti, M.P. Villa, M. Barreto, R. Rota, J. Pagani, S. Martella, C. Falasca, B. Paggi, F. Guglielmi, G. Ciofetta
European Respiratory Journal 2001 17: 881-886; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.17508810
R. Ronchetti
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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M.P. Villa
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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M. Barreto
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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R. Rota
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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J. Pagani
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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S. Martella
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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C. Falasca
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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B. Paggi
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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F. Guglielmi
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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G. Ciofetta
Paediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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    Fig. 1.—

    Time trends in the prevalence of asthma in the three surveys (1974, 1992 and 1998) in a) males, b) females and c) the total population by children's birth-yr. ▒: prevalence of asthma in younger children (6–9.9 yrs); □: prevalence of asthma in older children (10–13 yrs).

Tables

  • Figures
  • Table 1—

    Demographic socioeconomic characteristics of the children studied in the three surveys according to urban area of residence

    Surveys
    197419921998
    Area AArea BArea AArea BArea AArea B
    Subjects n225912291139
    Demography
     SexM1154 (51.1)635 (51.7)561 (49.2)
    F1105 (48.9)594 (48.3)579 (50.8)
     Age yrs
      <9.91098 (48.6)611 (49.7)620 (54.4)
      >101161 (51.4)618 (50.3)518 (45.6)
    Socio economic characteristics
     Living in house with >4 rooms5.831.79.844.810.345.1
     Father's nonmanual activity5.630.09.234.89.637.7
     Habitually engaging in organized sport32.657.737.664.239.661.4
     Household smoking (% of families consuming the given no. of cigarettes·day−1)
      0–1976.277.465.567.765.472.8
      20–3917.716.726.124.426.720.3
      >396.15.98.48.07.96.9
    • Data are presented as n (%) or %

    • Urban area A: intensive housing, high buildings, chemical industries, heavy traffic, scarce green areas (lower standard of living)

    • Urban area B: lower and widely spaced buildings, no chemical industries, light traffic, wide green areas (higher standard of living)

    • significant difference between urban areas, (p<0.05, Chi-squared test)

  • Table 2—

    Prevalence of positive answers to questions concerning wheezing, dyspnoea and asthma

    Survey year
    197419921998
    Subject n225912291139
    Q1 Physician diagnosis of asthma or asthmatic bronchitis5.011.611.0
    Q2 Dyspnoea on effort more easily than other children0.92.64.1
    Q3 Parent reported asthmatic attacks (attacks of breathlessness and audible wheezing)3.610.89.4
    Q4 Parent reported asthmatic attacks during the past year1.64.03.7
    Asthma5.512.212.0
    • Data are presented as per cent of total population

    • affirmative answer to question 1 or to question 2 and 3

    • p<0.0001, Chi-squared test

    • p=ns

  • Table 3—

    Prevalence of asthma by environmental factors

    Environmental factorAsthma prevalence %
    197419921998
    Household smoking habits no. cigarettes·day−1
     0–195.111.311.6
     20–397.014.110.3
     >3910.916.313.8
    Father' occupation level
     Requiring university degree5.412.713.9
     Qualified, nonmanual5.811.612.7
     Manual5.410.710.3
    Number of persons in the household
     ≥37.112.210.3
     4–55.312.312.3
     ≤66.513.317.4
    Number of rooms in the house
     1–24.511.613.7
     3–46.411.911.7
     ≥56.013.410.8
    Housing conditions
     Central heating no damp rooms5.511.811.6
     No central heating or damp rooms6.813.319.7
     No central heating and damp rooms11.421.518.7
    Area of residence
     A5.111.612.7
     B6.111.912.1
    • Urban area A: intensive housing, highbuildings, chemical industries, heavy traffic, scarce green areas (lower standard of living)

    • urban area B: lower and more widely spaced building, no chemical industries, light traffic, wide green areas (higher standard of living)

    • significant difference, p<0.05, Chi-squared test

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Is the increase in childhood asthma coming to an end? Findings from three surveys of schoolchildren in Rome, Italy
R. Ronchetti, M.P. Villa, M. Barreto, R. Rota, J. Pagani, S. Martella, C. Falasca, B. Paggi, F. Guglielmi, G. Ciofetta
European Respiratory Journal May 2001, 17 (5) 881-886; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.17508810

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Is the increase in childhood asthma coming to an end? Findings from three surveys of schoolchildren in Rome, Italy
R. Ronchetti, M.P. Villa, M. Barreto, R. Rota, J. Pagani, S. Martella, C. Falasca, B. Paggi, F. Guglielmi, G. Ciofetta
European Respiratory Journal May 2001, 17 (5) 881-886; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.17508810
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