Factors associated with increased respiratory symptoms among asthmatic children in Singapore

Asthma is a common cause of childhood morbidity. The objective of the prese nt study was to evaluate the factors associated with increased asthma morbi dity among asthmatic children in Singapore. A cohort of primary school chil dren (n = 6,404, aged 6-13 years) were evaluated using the American Thoraci c Society and the Division of Lung Diseases of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, USA (ATS-DLD) respiratory questionnaire. A total of 2,222 of 6,404 children (34.8%) was found to have reported symptoms of wheezing. Of these, 899/2,222 (40.5%) reported symptoms of "increased asthma morbidi ty". This was associated with the younger age group, male sex and higher so cio-economic status. In addition, concurrent or past allergies were strongl y associated with increased asthma morbidity, while premature birth and a h istory of prior childhood respiratory illnesses and infections were predict ive of greater asthma morbidity. No association was found between increased morbidity and presence of domestic pets, parental smoking, childcare atten dance, and the season of birth.