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Social Inequalities: Do They Matter in Asthma, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Symptoms in Children?

Author

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  • Agata Wypych-Ślusarska

    (Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland)

  • Karolina Krupa-Kotara

    (Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland)

  • Ewa Niewiadomska

    (Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland)

Abstract

Background: Social inequalities (e.g., poverty and low level of education) generate inequalities in health. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between indicators of social inequalities and the frequency of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and bronchitis in children. Material and Methods: In 2019, an epidemiological cross-sectional study on 3237 students from elementary schools in Silesia Voivodships (South Poland) was conducted. The students’ parents completed a questionnaire based on the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Social inequalities in the children’s families were determined according to parents’ education and professional status (working vs. unemployed), self-assessment of economic status, and housing conditions. To determine the influence of social factors on the occurrence of asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Results: Children living in apartments with traces of mold had a higher risk of developing asthma (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.17–1.96; p = 0.002) or bronchitis (OR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.13–1.72; p = 0.002), wheezing attacks at nights (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.01–1.93), wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.6; 95%CI:1.24–2.08; p < 0.001), and chronic cough (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.49–2.46; p < 0.001). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was associated with higher risk of cough (OR = 1.5 95%CI: 1.22–1.96; p < 0.001) and dyspnea in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.04–2.00; p = 0.02). Low socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with increased risk of chronic cough (OR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.09–2.03; p = 0.009) and increased risk of wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.06–1.97; p = 0.008). Asthma and bronchitis were not dependent on parents’ education or professional status. Conclusions: Social inequalities have significant impacts on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, bronchitis, and asthma in children. Interventions aimed at preventing bronchitis and childhood asthma should also focus on social health determinants.

Suggested Citation

  • Agata Wypych-Ślusarska & Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Ewa Niewiadomska, 2022. "Social Inequalities: Do They Matter in Asthma, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Symptoms in Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:15366-:d:979025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nazeem Muhajarine & Daphne McRae & Mohsen Soltanifar, 2019. "Aboriginal Status and Neighborhood Income Inequality Moderate the Relationship between School Absenteeism and Early Childhood Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Agata Wypych-Ślusarska & Martina Grot & Maria Kujawińska & Maciej Nigowski & Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Klaudia Oleksiuk & Joanna Głogowska-Ligus & Mateusz Grajek, 2022. "Respiratory Symptoms, Allergies, and Environmental Exposures in Children with and without Asthma," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Dávid Molnár & Gabriella Gálffy & Alpár Horváth & Gábor Tomisa & Gábor Katona & Andor Hirschberg & Györgyi Mezei & Monika Sultész, 2021. "Prevalence of Asthma and Its Associating Environmental Factors among 6–12-Year-Old Schoolchildren in a Metropolitan Environment—A Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-16, December.
    4. E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens & Ashley L. Merianos & Patricia C. Fulkerson & Lara Stone & Georg E. Matt, 2019. "The Association of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Inflammatory Markers in Hospitalized Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-10, November.
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