AIRWAY FUNCTION AMONG INUIT PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN FAR NORTHERN QUEBEC

The study of the prevalence and determinants of asthma and allergy in different populations may provide clues to their etiology. We describe airway function and its determinants among Inuit school-children livi ng in far Northern Quebec. We assessed the presence of airways hyperre sponsiveness (AHR), defined as a 15% drop in FEV, with exercise, airfl ow obstruction, as judged by a reduced FEV1/NC, and atopy, as evidence d by skin test positivity to inhaled aeroallergens, among 509 Inuit ag ed mostly from 6 to 13 yr. Smoking by the children (31.9%) and their p arents was common, including maternal smoking during pregnancy (79.5%) . Atopy was found in only 5.3% of children. Apart from age, there were no significant associations between AHR and any of the determinants e xamined. Airflow obstruction was present among 7.7% of children and oc curred most commonly among children with higher levels of salivary cot inine and in those with four or more lower respiratory illnesses in th e first 2 yr of life. Asthma and atopy were uncommon in this populatio n whereas evidence of chronic airflow obstruction was frequently found . Measures to reduce the spread of respiratory infection and preventio n of smoking are likely to be of most benefit in improving respiratory health in these isolated communities.