Socioeconomic risk factors in the prevalence of asthma and other atopic diseases in children 6 to 7 years old in Valencia, Spain

A cross-sectional survey of a cohort study was carried out between June and December 1994 in Valencia, Spain (population in 1994. 764,293 inhabitants) . Two hundred sixty public and private schools randomly selected from the t otal of schools in Valencia were invited to participate; 3948 children aged 6-7 years cooperated in our study after informed consent was obtained from parents and school director. The survey in Valencia is part of the Interna tional Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC). Prevalences for as thma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were determined and contrasted with so cioeconomic status (SES) among children. No statistically significant assoc iations were established between the prevalences of asthma, rhinitis and at opic dermatitis, and SES. However, atopic dermatitis was found to be common among upper class children (21.5 per 100 children). Likewise, significant associations were observed between the severity of atopy (2 or 3 atopic man ifestations) and SES (p = 0.000), being greater for lower strata (4.5 per 1 00 children) for the three SES level significant differences were establish ed (p = 0.008) regarding passive exposure to tobacco smoke in the home.