This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Online Supplement All Versions of this Article: 200409-1158OCv1 172/1/61    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Skorge, T. D. Articles by Bakke, P. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Skorge, T. D. Articles by Bakke, P. S.

The Adult Incidence of Asthma and Respiratory Symptoms by Passive Smoking In Utero or in Childhood

Institute of Medicine and Section for Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, and Department of Thoracic Medicine and Center for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Trude Duelien Skorge, M.D., Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. E-mail: trude.duelien{at}helse-bergen.no

The effects of pre- or postnatal passive smoking on the adult incidence of asthma have not been reported previously. Between 1985 and 1996/1997, we conducted an 11-year community cohort study on the incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in Western Norway. The cohort included 3,786 subjects aged 15 to 70 years, of which 2,819 were responders at both baseline and follow-up. The incidence of asthma and five respiratory symptoms by self-reported exposure to maternal smoking in utero and in childhood, as well as smoking by other household members in childhood, was examined. After adjustment for sex, age, education, hay fever, personal smoking, and occupational exposure, maternal smoking was associated with asthma, phlegm cough, chronic cough, dyspnea grade 2, attacks of dyspnea, and wheezing, with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals [CI]) of 3.0 (1.6, 5.6), 1.7 (1.1, 2.6), 1.9 (1.2, 3.0), 1.9 (1.2, 3.0), 2.0 (1.3, 3.0), and 1.4 (0.9, 2.2), respectively. The adjusted attributable fractions (95% CI) of the adult incidence of asthma were 17.3% (5.2, 27.9) caused by maternal smoking and 9.3% (95% CI, –23.2, 33.2) caused by smoking by other household members. Exposure to pre- and postnatal smoking carries a substantial risk for developing adult asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Key Words: asthma • cohort study • passive smoking • respiratory symptoms

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. B. Grydeland, A. Dirksen, H. O. Coxson, S. G. Pillai, S. Sharma, G. E. Eide, A. Gulsvik, and P. S. Bakke Quantitative computed tomography: emphysema and airway wall thickness by sex, age and smoking Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2009; 34(4): 858 - 865. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. Hugg, M. S. Jaakkola, R. O. Ruotsalainen, V. J. Pushkarev, and J. J.K. Jaakkola Parental smoking behaviour and effects of tobacco smoke on children's health in Finland and Russia Eur J Public Health, February 1, 2008; 18(1): 55 - 62. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Vogelberg, T. Hirsch, K. Radon, H. Dressel, D. Windstetter, G. Weinmayr, S. K. Weiland, E. von Mutius, D. Nowak, and W. Leupold Leisure time activity and new onset of wheezing during adolescence Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2007; 30(4): 672 - 676. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Devereux, A. A Litonjua, S. W Turner, L. C. Craig, G. McNeill, S. Martindale, P. J Helms, A. Seaton, and S. T Weiss Maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy and early childhood wheezing Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2007; 85(3): 853 - 859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Basyigit, M. Tugay, M.O. Dilioglugil, F. Yildiz, H. Maral, and S. Sozubir Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on peroxidative changes of the fetal rat lungs whose mothers were exposed to cigarette smoke Human and Experimental Toxicology, February 1, 2007; 26(2): 99 - 103. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. M. Singh, P. E. Moore, J. E. Gern, R. F. Lemanske Jr., and T. V. Hartert Bronchiolitis to Asthma: A Review and Call for Studies of Gene-Virus Interactions in Asthma Causation Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 15, 2007; 175(2): 108 - 119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Pattenden, T. Antova, M. Neuberger, B. Nikiforov, M. De Sario, L. Grize, J. Heinrich, F. Hruba, N. Janssen, H. Luttmann-Gibson, et al. Parental smoking and children's respiratory health: independent effects of prenatal and postnatal exposure. Tob. Control, August 1, 2006; 15(4): 294 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Eisner and F. Forastiere Passive smoking, lung function, and public health. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2006; 173(11): 1184 - 1185. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Moshammer, G. Hoek, H. Luttmann-Gibson, M. A. Neuberger, T. Antova, U. Gehring, F. Hruba, S. Pattenden, P. Rudnai, H. Slachtova, et al. Parental Smoking and Lung Function in Children: An International Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2006; 173(11): 1255 - 1263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T M L Eagan, J Hetland, and L E Aaro Decline in respiratory symptoms in service workers five months after a public smoking ban Tob. Control, June 1, 2006; 15(3): 242 - 246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Nawrot, A. Nemmar, and B. Nemery Update in environmental and occupational medicine 2005. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2006; 173(9): 948 - 952. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. Wenzel and R. Covar Update in asthma 2005. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2006; 173(7): 698 - 706. [Full Text] [PDF]