Relationship between obesity and sex, and prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Jin; Zhou, Yao; Wang, Juan; Wu, Hongmei; Liu, Hongxia; Shi, Yu; Lei, Qihong; Xia, Wen; Ji, Chunzhen; Ye, Xinmin; Han, Qing; Liang, Hui; Liu, Feng; Zhao, Deyu
• Is Part Of: Journal of international medical research. Volume 43:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 146
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Body mass index -- sex -- Han Chinese children -- asthma-like disease -- wheeze; Medicine -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0300060514548289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0605

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and sex, and asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han children in Nanjing, China. Methods: Han children aged 3–14 years were recruited. Height and weight were measured; individuals were classified into obesity, thinness and normal-weight groups on the basis of the calculated BMI. Questionnaires were used to measure prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze. Results were evaluated using the χ 2 -test, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: In total 12 092 children (6 331 boys and 5 761 girls) were included. Rates of normal weight, obesity and thinness were 8915/12 092 (73.73%), 1479/12 092 (12.23%) and 1698/12 092 (14.04%), respectively. Asthma-like disease and current wheeze were reported in 2051/12 092 (16.96%) and 400/12 092 (3.31%), respectively. An increased BMI was associated with a greater risk of asthma-like disease; this relationship was strongest in girls. Current wheeze was associated positively with obesity and negatively with thinness, but only among boys. Boys had a greater risk of asthma-like disease and current wheeze than girls. Conclusions: BMI and sex were associated independently with the prevalence of asthma-like disease and current wheeze in Han Chinese children.