Is childhood asthma associated with educational level and longest-held occupation?

Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Feb 15;175(4):279-88. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr300. Epub 2012 Jan 5.

Abstract

Children with asthma can experience chronic morbidity that may interfere with education and career progression. The authors investigated retrospectively whether a history of childhood asthma is associated with educational level and longest-held occupation, by gender. Cross-sectional analysis included a nationally representative sample of 10,452 adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2004). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between a childhood-asthma history and educational level, employment, and longest-held occupation. An estimated 6.9% of men and 5.8% of women had a childhood-asthma history. Persons with a childhood-asthma history tended to have a higher educational level than those with no asthma history. Among those who ever worked, and after adjustment for age and race/ethnicity, men with a childhood-asthma history were more likely to work in health-diagnosing occupations, other professional occupations, and as cooks; women with a childhood-asthma history were more likely to work in management-related, entertainment-related, and health service occupations. Compared with those with no asthma history, persons with a childhood-asthma history tended to achieve a higher educational level and, if they worked, were more likely to work in particular occupations.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asthma* / epidemiology
  • Career Choice*
  • Career Mobility*
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Social Class
  • Time Factors
  • United States / epidemiology