Prevalence of asthma symptoms and association with obesity, sedentary lifestyle and sociodemographic factors: data from the Hellenic National Action Plan for the assessment, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity (MIS301205)

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of asthma symptoms in a representative sample of Greek schoolchildren and to evaluate its association with overweight/obesity as well as other socioeconomic, demographic, and lifestyle factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from 10/2012 to 12/2013 on a pre-selected, representative elementary school cohort. Parents completed standardized questionnaires evaluating among others socioeconomic and sedentary activity habits. Students were measured with high sensitivity methods. Socioeconomic status (SES) index (range: 0–13) was calculated on years of parental education, rented versus owned residence, size of residence evaluated as meters squared per person (m²/person), and number of vehicles. Asthma was defined according to the approved Greek version of the International Study on Allergies and Asthma in Childhood (ISAAC) criteria. Results: The prevalence of any asthma symptoms was documented in 31% of population. The odds of presenting any asthma symptoms decreased with increase in age (odds ratio: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.98) and increased with overweight (odds ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25), obesity (odds ratio: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.11–1.46) and sedentary lifestyle. Conclusion: This is the first representative survey of prevalence of asthma symptoms in children and adolescents in Greece indicating its continuous increase. A strong association between presence of asthma symptoms and obesity and sedentary activities was documented irrespectively of socioeconomic and regional factors. The findings stress the importance of public health policies toward obesity prevention and enhancement of physical activities in pediatric populations.

Keywords:

• Allergy
• overweight
• prevalence
• socioeconomic status
• schoolchildren

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to all research team members, as well as to the parents/caregivers and children for their participation in the study.

Compliance with ethical statements

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

Notes on contributors

Feneli Karachaliou

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Theodora Psaltopoulou

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Yiannis Manios

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Dimitra Koutsouki

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Grigoris Bogdanis

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Vilelmini Carayianni

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Theodoros Sergentanis

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Angelos Hatzakis

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Stefanos Michalacos

F Karachaliou, E Vlachopapadopoulou, T Psaltopoulou, Y Manios, D Koutsouki, G Bogdanis, V Carayanni, T Sergentanis, A Hatzakis, and S Michalacos contributed to the design of the study, data collection, and data management. T Sergentanis led the statistical analyses with the contribution and input from F Karachaliou and T Psaltopoulou. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.