Gestational and Early-Life Renovation Associated With Asthma and Allergies Among Pre-School Children in Chongqing: A Cross-Sectional Study

摘要

The prevalence of asthma and allergies among children has increased in the last decades. Obviously genetic predisposition is the main factor, and also lifestyle factors, dietary habits and indoor environments are related to their high prevalence in many studies. A cross-sectional questionnaire study on home characteristics in 5,299 1-8 years old children was carried out in Chongqing to study the associations between decorated housing environments and children's asthma and allergies. The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 10.0% for boys and 6.6% for girls. Multivariate logistic regressions were applied controlling for confounding factors. Having had new furniture and new decoration installed during one year before pregnancy had significant associations with children's asthma and allergies compared to other periods. Home new furniture one year before pregnancy was positively associated with wheezing ever [aOR (95% CI): 1.39(1.14, 1.71)] and rhinitis ever [aOR (95% CI): 1.30(1.04, 1.62)]. Having had new decoration during pregnancy was also related to eczema ever and eczema in the past year. Stratifying for gender, there was a significant difference in the impacts of new furniture and new decoration on asthma and allergies between girls and boys, and girls had more health problems than boys. Opening windows of children's room more frequently could effectively reduce the prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms.