Food insecurity, vitamin D insufficiency and respiratory infections among Inuit children

Figures & data

Table I. General characteristics of the study cohort (n = 388)

Age, years, mean (SD)	3.9 (0.8)
Sex, female, n (%)	204 (52.6)
Height (cm), mean (SD)	103.8 (7.2)
Weight (kg), mean (SD)	20.1 (4.1)
Body mass index (BMI), median (IQR)	18.1 (17.1, 19.4)
Birth weight (kg), mean (SD)	2.6 (1.5)
Serum vitamin D performed, n (%)	279 (71.9)
Serum vitamin D level, median (IQR)	48.4 (33.1, 71.8)
Ever breastfed, n (%)	252 (64.9)
Household crowding index, median (IQR)	3.0 (1.5,2.5)
Smokers in the house, n (%)	347 (89.4)
In utero smoke exposure, n (%)	316 (81.4)
Active hunter in the household, n (%)	269 (69.3)
Type of housing, n (%)
Public	267 (68.8)
Non-public	107 (27.6)
Reported mould or in need of repairs, n (%)
Mould	20 (5.2)
In need of repairs	87 (22.4)
Both	43 (11.1)
Neither	217 (55.9)
Child's location during the day, n (%)
Home	238 (61.3)
Day care	129 (33.2)
Homecare	17 (4.4)
Reported severe chest infection before age 2 years, n (%)	112 (28.9)
Reported health centre visit for a respiratory problem in the past 12 months, n (%)	160 (41.2)

Table II. Effect of child and adult food security on respiratory events

Reported severe chest infection before age 2 years
	Child food security		Adult food security
	OR (95% CI)	p	OR (95% CI)	p
Age, per year	1.09 (0.81–1.46)	0.56	1.10 (0.82–1.48)	0.52
Sex, female	0.76 (0.47–1.22)	0.26	0.76 (0.47–1.23)	0.26
Household crowding index	1.51 (1.09–2.09)	0.01	1.46 (1.05–2.03)	0.03
Birth weight, per kg	1.21 (1.02–1.43)	0.03	1.22 (1.03–1.45)	0.02
Child score (vs. secure)
Moderately insecure	0.92 (0.53–1.60)	0.76
Severely insecure	0.95 (0.51–1.78)	0.88
Adult score (vs. secure)
Moderately insecure			1.18 (0.65–2.14)	0.58
Severely insecure			1.17 (0.62–2.20)	0.63
Reported health centre visit for a respiratory problem in the past 12 months
	Child food security		Adult food security
	OR (95% CI)	p	OR (95% CI)	p
Age, years	0.66 (0.48–0.91)	0.02	0.68 (0.49–0.94)	0.02
Sex, female	0.70 (0.42–1.16)	0.17	0.72 (0.43–1.20)	0.21
Ever breastfed	0.80 (0.47–1.38)	0.42	0.80 (0.47–1.38)	0.42
Vitamin D	1.04 (0.95–1.14)	0.42	1.03 (0.94–1.13)	0.55
Child score (vs. secure)
Moderately insecure	1.62 (0.89–2.94)	0.11
Severely insecure	1.06 (0.56–2.02)	0.86
Adult score (vs. secure)
Moderately insecure			1.61 (0.85,3 .04)	0.15
Severely insecure			1.39 (0.71–2.70)	0.34

Table III. Predictors of respiratory events among children with serum vitamin D levels available (n = 279)

Reported severe chest infection before age 2 years
	OR (95% CI)	p
Age, years	1.02 (0.71–1.46)	0.92
Sex, female	0.72 (0.40–1.30)	0.27
BMI	1.06 (0.93–1.20)	0.39
Household crowding	1.32 (0.89–1.96)	0.17
Birth weight, per kg	1.31 (1.06–1.63)	0.01
Vitamin D
Insufficiency	0.97 (0.45–2.07)	0.93
Deficiency	1.44 (0.52–3.95)	0.48
Reported health centre visit for a respiratory problem in the past 12 months
	OR (95% CI)	p
Age, years	0.70 (0.52–0.96)	0.03
Sex, female	0.76 (0.46–1.26)	0.29
BMI	1.07 (0.95–1.20)	0.25
Ever breastfed	0.75 (0.43–1.28)	0.29
Vitamin D
Insufficiency	0.71 (0.38–1.35)	0.30
Deficiency	0.57 (0.23–1.46)	0.25

BMI, body mass index.