RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Parental education and children's respiratory and allergic symptoms in the Pollution and the Young (PATY) study
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 95
OP 107
DO 10.1183/09031936.06.00017205
VO 27
IS 1
A1 U. Gehring
A1 S. Pattenden
A1 H. Slachtova
A1 T. Antova
A1 C. Braun-Fahrländer
A1 E. Fabianova
A1 T. Fletcher
A1 C. Galassi
A1 G. Hoek
A1 S. V. Kuzmin
A1 H. Luttmann-Gibson
A1 H. Moshammer
A1 P. Rudnai
A1 R. Zlotkowska
A1 J. Heinrich
YR 2006
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/1/95.abstract
AB Inequalities in health between socio-economic groups are a major public health concern. The current authors studied associations between parental socio-economic status (SES) and children's respiratory and allergic symptoms in 13 diverse countries, including the Russian Federation, North America (Canada and the USA), and countries across Eastern and Western Europe. Data of 57,000 children aged 6–12 yrs, originating from eight cross-sectional studies, were analysed. SES was defined by parental education. Respiratory and allergic symptoms were defined by parental questionnaire reports. Multiple logistic regressions showed that low parental education was associated with a decreased risk of inhalant allergy and itchy rash in school children. Furthermore, low parental education was associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze and nocturnal dry cough. No clear association was found between parental education and prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma and bronchitis. Part of the difference between socio-economic groups with regard to their children's symptoms was explained by established risk factors, such as parental allergy, smoking during pregnancy, pet ownership, crowding, mould/moisture in the home, use of gas for cooking, and air pollution (particulate matter with a diameter of <10 µm). However, differences remained after adjusting for these variables. Children's health was associated with parental education. The association could not fully be explained by established risk factors.