The influence of childhood asthma on puberty and height in Swedish adolescents. Issue 5 (5th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Protudjer, Jennifer Lisa Penner; Lundholm, Cecilia; Bergström, Anna; Kull, Inger; Almqvist, Catarina
• Is Part Of: Pediatric allergy and immunology. Volume 26:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 474
• Page End: 481
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05
• Subjects: Allergy in children -- Periodicals; Immunologic diseases in children -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1111/pai.12398
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-6157

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pai12398-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pai12398-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Evidence relating to the effect of asthma on puberty or height is inconclusive. We aimed to examine whether the exposure of childhood asthma, including timing and phenotypes, and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use is either cross‐sectionally or longitudinally associated with the outcomes of pubertal staging or height.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12398-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This study employed data from a longitudinal, population‐based cohort of Swedish children (born 1994–1996). At ages 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 years, parent‐reported data on asthma and ICS use in the previous 12 months were collected. At 8 and 12 years, height was ascertained at a clinical visit, and child‐reported, respectively. At 12 years, children answered puberty‐related questions.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12398-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Retention through 12 years was 82% (3366/4089). Participants without puberty data (n = 620) were excluded, yielding a study population of 2746 (67%). Asthma at 8 years, including timing of onset and phenotypes, was not statistically significantly associated with pubertal staging in adjusted models. Children with asthma averaged 0.93 cm (95% CI 0.35–1.50) shorter than children without asthma. Children with asthma using ICS were 1.28 (95% CI 0.62–1.95) shorter than those with asthma without using ICS.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12398-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>We found no consistent association between asthma and pubertal staging. Children with asthma were shorter than those without asthma. Moreover, children with asthma using ICS were shorter than those not using ICS.</p> </sec> </abstract>