United States prevalence of pediatric asthma by environmental tobacco smoke exposure, 2016–2017

Abstract

Objectives

We sought to update the prevalence estimates of parent-reported asthma diagnosis by Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure in the United States (US) pediatric population.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 71,811 families with children who participated in the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Weighted asthma prevalence estimates were calculated for ETS-exposed and non-exposed children. Chi-square analysis compared asthma prevalence between the two exposure groups and logistic regression analysis generated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of asthma diagnosis by ETS exposure by sex, race/ethnicity, and household education and income level.

Results

Asthma prevalence estimates were significantly higher in ETS-exposed vs. non-exposed children (10.7% vs. 7.8%, p < 0.001). Children with a smoker in the house are 30% more likely to have an asthma diagnosis vs. children with no smokers in the house (aOR 1.29, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.09–1.52). Significant predictors for ETS exposure included < high school education and lower family income. Conversely, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children were less likely to have ETS exposure vs. non-Hispanic white children.

Conclusions

ETS exposure is a significant risk factor for asthma in the US pediatric population. Smoking cessation initiatives targeting non-Hispanic white parents from lower socioeconomic may improve children’s chronic pulmonary health risk.

Keywords:

• Pediatric
• asthma prevalence
• ETS

Declaration of interest

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

Funding

This project was not supported by any grants/funding.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health at https://www.childhealthdata.org/learn-about-the-nsch/NSCH.