Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Biomass fuel use and the risk of asthma in Nigerian children

Thacher, Jesse D. LU ; Emmelin, Anders LU ; Madaki, Aboi J. K. and Thacher, Tom D. (2013) In Respiratory Medicine 107(12). p.1845-1851
Abstract
Background: Biomass fuel smoke exposure contributes to respiratory infections in childhood, but its association with asthma has not been established. We studied the relationship of biomass fuel use with asthma symptoms and lung function in Nigerian children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 299 village children aged 5-11 years in North Central Nigeria. Data were collected regarding the cooking fuels used and duration of daily smoke exposure in the cooking area. Asthma symptoms were assessed with a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, and lung function was assessed with spirometry. Results: The prevalence of a lifetime history of wheeze was 9.4% (95% CI: 6.3%-13.2%).... (More)
Background: Biomass fuel smoke exposure contributes to respiratory infections in childhood, but its association with asthma has not been established. We studied the relationship of biomass fuel use with asthma symptoms and lung function in Nigerian children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 299 village children aged 5-11 years in North Central Nigeria. Data were collected regarding the cooking fuels used and duration of daily smoke exposure in the cooking area. Asthma symptoms were assessed with a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, and lung function was assessed with spirometry. Results: The prevalence of a lifetime history of wheeze was 9.4% (95% CI: 6.3%-13.2%). Fourteen children (4.7%) had airway obstruction (FEV1/FEV6 <85%). Female subjects had lower FEV1 and FEV6 (110% and 120% percent predicted, respectively) than males (121% and 130%, respectively, P<0.001 for both differences). Advancing age was associated with a relative decline in the predicted value of FEV1 of 7.8% per year (r = -0.61; P < 0.001). Children in families that used firewood daily did not have a significantly increased likelihood of asthma-related symptoms (OR = 2.36, 95% Cl: 0.66-8.44). Similarly, airway obstruction did not differ significantly between children in households that did and did not use firewood daily (mean FEV1/FEV6 of 0.95 and 0.97, respectively; P = 0.41). Conclusion: Reported smoke exposure was not associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms or airway obstruction. However, lifetime smoke exposure may explain the reduction in spirometric values in female subjects and with advancing age. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Lung volume measurements, Africa, Epidemiology, Indoor air pollution
in
Respiratory Medicine
volume
107
issue
12
pages
1845 - 1851
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000329558700005
  • scopus:84890314093
  • pmid:24094943
ISSN
1532-3064
DOI
10.1016/j.rmed.2013.09.009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6f01da8e-b2b6-4c13-b4fa-ffbc41c5f128 (old id 4320107)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:01:17
date last changed
2024-02-25 21:25:18
@article{6f01da8e-b2b6-4c13-b4fa-ffbc41c5f128,
  abstract     = {{Background: Biomass fuel smoke exposure contributes to respiratory infections in childhood, but its association with asthma has not been established. We studied the relationship of biomass fuel use with asthma symptoms and lung function in Nigerian children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 299 village children aged 5-11 years in North Central Nigeria. Data were collected regarding the cooking fuels used and duration of daily smoke exposure in the cooking area. Asthma symptoms were assessed with a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, and lung function was assessed with spirometry. Results: The prevalence of a lifetime history of wheeze was 9.4% (95% CI: 6.3%-13.2%). Fourteen children (4.7%) had airway obstruction (FEV1/FEV6 &lt;85%). Female subjects had lower FEV1 and FEV6 (110% and 120% percent predicted, respectively) than males (121% and 130%, respectively, P&lt;0.001 for both differences). Advancing age was associated with a relative decline in the predicted value of FEV1 of 7.8% per year (r = -0.61; P &lt; 0.001). Children in families that used firewood daily did not have a significantly increased likelihood of asthma-related symptoms (OR = 2.36, 95% Cl: 0.66-8.44). Similarly, airway obstruction did not differ significantly between children in households that did and did not use firewood daily (mean FEV1/FEV6 of 0.95 and 0.97, respectively; P = 0.41). Conclusion: Reported smoke exposure was not associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms or airway obstruction. However, lifetime smoke exposure may explain the reduction in spirometric values in female subjects and with advancing age. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Thacher, Jesse D. and Emmelin, Anders and Madaki, Aboi J. K. and Thacher, Tom D.}},
  issn         = {{1532-3064}},
  keywords     = {{Lung volume measurements; Africa; Epidemiology; Indoor air pollution}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{1845--1851}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Respiratory Medicine}},
  title        = {{Biomass fuel use and the risk of asthma in Nigerian children}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2013.09.009}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.rmed.2013.09.009}},
  volume       = {{107}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}