Risk factors associated with wheezing in infants

Objectiveto identify possible risk factors associated with wheezing in infants (12-15 months-old) in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.Methodsthis was a cross-sectional study performed by applying a standardized written questionnaire from the international study on wheezing in infants (Estudio Internacional de Sibilancia en Lactantes - EISL), phase 3. Parents and/or guardians of infants were interviewed at primary health care clinics or at home from August of 2009 to November of 2010. Factors associated to wheezing were studied using bivariate and multivariate analysis (using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] v.18.0), and expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).Resultsthe written questionnaire was answered by 1,060 parents and/or guardians. The risk factors for wheezing were: history of asthma in the family [mother (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.07-2.43); father (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.22-3.23); siblings (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.18-3.87)]; history of previous pneumonia (OR = 10.80; 95% CI = 4.52-25.77); having had more than six upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) (OR = 2.95; 95% CI = 2.11-4.14); having had first URTI before the third month of life (OR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.04-2.17); living in a moderately polluted area (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.08-2.33); paracetamol use for URTI (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.54-2.95); and antibiotic use for skin infection (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.18-4.46).Conclusionsthe study of risk factors for wheezing in the first year of life is important to help physicians identify young children at high risk of developing asthma and to improve public health prevention strategies in order to reduce the morbidity of wheezing in childhood.     

Recurrent wheezing in preterm infants: Prevalence and risk factors

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with progression to recurrent wheezing in preterm infants.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014 and 2015 and analyzed preterm infants born between 2011 and 2012. The search for these children was performed in a university maternity hospital and a Special Immunobiological Reference Center. The evaluation was performed through a questionnaire applied during a telephone interview.ResultsThe study included 445 children aged 39 (18–54) months. In the univariate analysis, the risk factors with the greatest chance of recurrent wheezing were birth weight <1000 g, gestational age <28 weeks, living with two or more siblings, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis in the child, as well as food allergy and asthma in the parents. In the multivariate analysis, there was a significant association between recurrent wheezing and gestational age at birth <28 weeks, food allergy and atopic dermatitis in the child, and living with two or more children. Of the 445 analyzed subjects, 194 received passive immunization against the respiratory syncytial virus, and 251 preterm infants were not immunized. There was a difference between the gestational age of these subgroups (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of recurrent wheezing was 27.4% (95% CI: 23.42–31.70), whereas in the children who received passive immunization it was 36.1% (95% CI: 29.55–43.03).ConclusionsPersonal history of atopy, lower gestational age, and living with two or more children had a significant association with recurrent wheezing. Children with lower gestational age who received passive immunization against the respiratory syncytial virus had a higher prevalence of recurrent wheezing than the group with higher gestational age.     

Prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency in children and adolescents

ObjectiveTo identify the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children and adolescents.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study involving 546 schoolchildren, aged between 7 and 14 years, of both genders, enrolled in public elementary schools. Blood was collected for measurement of serum retinol. The retinol concentration in the samples was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were collected on anthropometrics, dietary, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Polytomous logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of interest.ResultsApproximately 27.5% of the students had retinol values < 30 μg/dL. The multivariate analysis showed, after the appropriate adjustments, a positive and statistically significant association of moderate/severe VAD (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.17 to 4.10) and marginal VAD (OR = 2.34; 95% CI 1.47 to 3.73) with age < 10 years. There was also association of VAD moderate/severe (OR = 2.01; 95% CI 1.01 to 5.05) and borderline VAD (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.08 to 4.21) with the anthropometric status of underweight. Lower intake of retinol was detected among those with severe VAD.ConclusionVAD is a health concern among children and adolescents. Lower weight and younger schoolchildren had greater vulnerability to VAD.     

Maternal breastfeeding: indicators and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in a subnormal urban cluster assisted by the Family Health Strategy

ObjectiveTo describe and analyze indicators of feeding practices related to breastfeeding and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in a subnormal urban cluster (slums) in Pernambuco, Brazil.MethodsFour breastfeeding indicators were used to interview mothers of children under 3 years of age. An inventory of the families’ socioeconomic and environmental factors, maternal obstetric history, and basic health care access was undertaken. The sample consisted of all 310 children under the age of 3 years from Coelhos, PE, Brazil. Spearman's correlation was carried out, as well as crude and adjusted prevalence ratios for a final statistical model that showed associated factors with the main outcome at a level of 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of breastfeeding in the first hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, continued breastfeeding at 1 year, and continued breastfeeding at 2 years were 60.2%, 32.9%, 45.9, and 35.9%, respectively. A correlation was observed between start of pacifier use and duration of either exclusive (r_s = 0.358 [p < 0.001]) or non-exclusive breastfeeding (r_s = 0.248 [p = 0.006]). Maternal age over 35 years (p < 0.001), home visit in the first week after birth (p = 0.003), having had a male baby (p = 0.029), and not using a pacifier (p < 0.001) remained protective factors in the final model.ConclusionThe prevalence rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months were well above the results obtained by other Brazilian authors. Home visit and maternal age prevailed as protective factors, while pacifier use was shown to be a discouraging practice.     

Determinants of neonatal death with emphasis on health care during pregnancy,childbirth and reproductive history

ObjectiveTo identify risk factors for neonatal mortality, focusing on factors related to assistance care during the prenatal period, childbirth, and maternal reproductive history.MethodsThis was a case-control study conducted in Maceió, Northeastern Brazil. The sample consisted of 136 cases and 272 controls selected from official Brazilian databases. The cases consisted of all infants who died before 28 days of life, selected from the Mortality Information System, and the controls were survivors during this period, selected from the Information System on Live Births, by random drawing among children born on the same date of the case. Household interviews were conducted with mothers.ResultsThe logistic regression analysis identified the following as determining factors for death in the neonatal period: mothers with a history of previous children who died in the first year of life (OR = 3.08), hospitalization during pregnancy (OR = 2.48), inadequate prenatal care (OR = 2.49), lack of ultrasound examination during prenatal care (OR = 3.89), transfer of the newborn to another unit after birth (OR = 5.06), admittance of the newborn at the ICU (OR = 5.00), and low birth weight (OR = 2.57). Among the socioeconomic conditions, there was a greater chance for neonatal mortality in homes with fewer residents (OR = 1.73) and with no children younger than five years (OR = 10.10).ConclusionSeveral factors that were associated with neonatal mortality in this study may be due to inadequate care during the prenatal period and childbirth, and inadequate newborn care, all of which can be modified.     

Neonatal sepsis as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental changes in preterm infants with very low birth weight

Objectiveto evaluate neonatal sepsis as a risk factor for abnormal neuromotor and cognitive development in very low birth weight preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age.Methodsthis was a prospective cohort study that followed the neuromotor and cognitive development of 194 very low birth weight preterm infants discharged from a public neonatal intensive care unit. The Bayley Scale of Infant Development (second edition) at 12 months of corrected age was used. The outcomes were the results of the clinical/neurological evaluation and the scores of the psychomotor development index (PDI) and mental development index (MDI) of the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II. The association between neonatal sepsis and neuromotor development and between neonatal sepsis and cognitive development was verified by logistic regression analysis.Resultsmean birth weight was 1,119 g (SD: 247) and mean gestational age was 29 weeks and 6 days (SD: 2). Approximately 44.3%(n = 86) of the infants had neonatal sepsis and 40.7% (n = 79) had abnormal neuromotor development and/or abnormal psychomotor development index (PDI < 85) at 12 months of corrected age. On the mental scale, 76 (39.1%) children presented abnormal cognitive development (MDI < 85). Children with neonatal sepsis were 2.5 times more likely to develop changes in neuromotor development (OR: 2.50; CI: 1.23‐5.10). There was no association between neonatal sepsis and cognitive development impairment.Conclusionneonatal sepsis was an independent risk factor for neuromotor development impairment at 12 months of corrected age, but not for mental development impairment.     

Bullying and self-esteem in adolescents from public schools

ObjectivesTo perform a situational analysis of bullying and self-esteem in municipal school units, by estimating the prevalence of bullying, according to gender, age, and role in bullying situations; and to identify the level of self-esteem of students by gender and role in bullying situations and correlate with the involvement in bullying situations.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study with 237 students in the ninth grade of middle school from public schools participating in the School Health Program in the city of Olinda (PE). The questionnaire used in the study was divided into three blocks: a sociodemographic block; a block on bullying, validated by Freire, Simão, and Ferreira (2006); and a block to assess self-esteem, by Rosenberg (1989).ResultsThe prevalence of bullying was 67.5%. The study population consisted of adolescents, mostly female (56.4%), aged 15-19 years (51.3%), of black ethnicity (69.1%). Most students lived with four or more people (79.7%) in their family-owned homes (83.8%), which had five or more rooms (79.1%). Observing bullying or being bullied were the most often reported situations (59.9% and 48.9%, respectively); when the roles of bullying are associated with self-esteem in relation to gender, it was observed that in the group of victims/aggressors and aggressors (p = 0.006 and 0.044, respectively), males had higher statistically significant self-esteem scores when compared to females.ConclusionThe findings indicate a large number of students involved in the several roles of bullying, identifying an association between these characteristics and sex/gender and self-esteem of those involved. The present study has identified the need for further studies on the nature of the event.     

Snoring in the first year of life

AIM: To describe the prevalence of snoring in infancy and the factors associated with snoring. METHODS: The investigation comprised a cross-sectional study of 1800 infants. Snoring was ascertained by interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of snoring was 15.8% in the first 4 wk of life and 26.1% in the past 2 wk. Snoring in the past 2 wk was associated with increasing age of the infant, male gender, maternal smoking, sleep position, number of respiratory infections and snoring in the first 4 wk of life after adjustment for potential confounders. No associations were found with snoring in the first 4 wk of life. CONCLUSION: Snoring is common in infancy. The identified risk factors for snoring are probably causally related to snoring. Further studies are needed to establish whether snoring in infancy is associated with current or subsequent morbidity.     

Association of breakfast intake with cardiometabolic risk factors

Objectivethis study aimed to evaluate the association of breakfast intake with cardiometabolic risk factors in a nationally-representative sample of Iranian pediatrics.Methodsthe study participants considered of 5,625 school students aged 10-18 years, studied in the third survey of the national school-based surveillance system (CASPIAN-III). They were classified into three groups based on the number of days they ate breakfast: “regular breakfast eater” (6-7days/week), “often breakfast eater” (3-5days/week), and “seldom breakfast eater” (0-2 days/week). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria modified for the pediatric age group. Moreover, high total cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and generalized obesity were included as other cardiometabolic risk factors. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between the breakfast intake category and cardiometabolic risk factors.Resultsthe number of subjects classified as “regular”, “often” and “seldom” breakfast eaters were 2,653(47.3%), 1,327(23.7%) and 1,624(29.0%), respectively. The average of triglycerides (TG), LDL-C, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body mass index (BMI) were higher in the “seldom breakfast eater” group (P for trend<0.001), whereas the mean of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was lower in this group than their other counterparts. Seldom breakfast eaters had an increased risk of obesity, elevated TG and LDL-C, as well as low HDL-C compared to “regular breakfast eaters”. The risk of MetS was significantly increased in subjects who seldom ate breakfast (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.18-3.27).Conclusionsskipping breakfast is associated with increased risk of MetS and other cardiometabooic factors in children and adolescents. Promoting the benefit of eating breakfast could be a simple and important implication to prevent these risk factors.     

International study of wheezing in infants: risk factors in affluent and non‐affluent countries during the first year of life

Garcia‐Marcos L, Mallol J, Solé D, Brand PLP and EISL group. International study of wheezing in infants: risk factors in affluent and non‐affluent countries during the first year of life.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 878–888.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Risk factors for wheezing during the first year of life (a major cause of respiratory morbidity worldwide) are poorly known in non‐affluent countries. We studied and compared risk factors in infants living in affluent and non‐affluent areas of the world. A population‐based study was carried out in random samples of infants from centres in Latin America (LA) and Europe (EU). Parents answered validated questionnaires referring to the first year of their infant’s life during routine health visits. Wheezing was stratified into occasional (1–2 episodes, OW) and recurrent (3 + episodes, RW). Among the 28687 infants included, the most important independent risk factors for OW and RW (both in LA and in EU) were having a cold during the first 3 months of life [OR for RW 3.12 (2.60–3.78) and 3.15 (2.51–3.97); population attributable fraction (PAF) 25.0% and 23.7%]; and attending nursery school [OR for RW 2.50 (2.04–3.08) and 3.09 (2.04–4.67); PAF 7.4% and 20.3%]. Other risk factors were as follows: male gender, smoking during pregnancy, family history of asthma/rhinitis, and infant eczema. Breast feeding for >3 months protected from RW [OR 0.8 (0.71–0.89) in LA and 0.77 (0.63–0.93) in EU]. University studies of mother protected only in LA [OR for OW 0.85 (0.76–0.95) and for RW 0.80 (0.70–0.90)]. Although most risk factors for wheezing are common in LA and EU; their public health impact may be quite different. Avoiding nursery schools and smoking in pregnancy, breastfeeding babies >3 months, and improving mother’s education would have a substantial impact in lowering its prevalence worldwide.     

Prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases among schoolchildren in Bolu, Turkey

AIM: In this study we aimed to detect the prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases in children aged between 7 and 14 years old at rural and urban areas of Bolu, Turkey. METHODS: Questionnaire of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase one and questionnaire including questions about family, demographic, socio-economic characteristics of children were applied to 931 schoolchildren who were selected by randomized sampling. RESULTS: In children, the prevalence of diseases and symptoms were as follows: wheeze ever: 15.5%, asthma: 5.6%, nasal symptoms ever: 41.4%, allergic rhinitis: 23.2%, itchy rash ever: 5.9% and eczema: 5.0%. In multivariate regression analysis, presence of allergic disease in the family was risk factor for wheezing (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.19-2.76), asthma (OR=2.19, CI=1.06-4.52), allergic rhinitis (OR=2.68, CI=1.80-3.98) and eczema (OR=2.33, CI=1.17-4.65); living in shanties was risk factor for allergic rhinitis (OR=5.26, CI=2.1-13.16); a monthly income below $300 was risk factor for asthma (OR=2.54, CI=1.06-6.08). CONCLUSION: It was detected that the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and its symptoms was more common in schoolchildren living in Bolu. Presence of allergic disease in fathers or mothers and low socio-economic level increase the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases in children.     

Health self-perception and its association with physical activity and nutritional status in adolescents

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between total physical activities, physical activity in free time and nutritional status with self-perceived health in adolescents of both genders.MethodsThis is a quantitative study that integrates the school-based, cross-sectional epidemiological survey with statewide coverage, whose sample consisted of 6261 adolescents (14–19 years old) selected by random conglomerate sampling. Data were collected using the Global School-based Student Health Survey. The chi-squared test (χ²) and the Poisson regression model with robust variance were used in the data analyses.ResultsIt was observed that 27.3% of the adolescents had a negative health self-perception, which was higher among girls (33.0% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, it was observed that boys who did not practice physical activity during free time (PR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.15–1.81) and were classified as insufficiently active (PR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.04–1.56), as well as girls who did not practice physical activity during free time (PR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02–1.29) and were classified as overweight (PR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01–1.29) had a greater chance of negative health self-perception.ConclusionBehavioral issues may have different effects on health self-perception when comparing boys with girls. Negative health self-perception was associated with nutritional status in girls and a lower level of physical activity in boys, and the practice of physical activity in the free time was considered a protective factor against a negative health self-perception for adolescents of both genders.     

尘螨阳性婴幼儿首次喘息后反复喘息发作的危险因素

目的 探讨尘螨阳性婴幼儿首次喘息后反复喘息发作的危险因素。方法 选取2014年8月至2015年2月间住院的首次喘息发作婴幼儿共1 236例,其中尘螨阳性387例,出院后随访1年,随访1年内再发喘息3次及3次以上的患儿设定为反复喘息组（n=67）,随访期间未再发生喘息的患儿设定为对照组（n=84）。采用单因素分析和多因素logistic逐步回归分析,探讨尘螨阳性的婴幼儿反复喘息发作的危险因素。结果 单因素分析显示,入院时年龄、入院前喘息时间、肺炎支原体感染率、流感病毒感染率与反复喘息发作相关联。多因素logistic逐步回归分析显示,入院时年龄较大（OR=2.21,P=0.04）、合并肺炎支原体感染（OR=3.54,P=0.001）为反复喘息发作的独立危险因素。结论 尘螨阳性的婴幼儿,特别是幼儿,若首次喘息时合并有肺炎支原体感染,则反复喘息发作的风险明显升高。     

Epidemiological and genetic characteristics associated with the severity of acute viral bronchiolitis by respiratory syncytial virus

Objectiveto assess the epidemiological and genetic factors associated with severity of acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).Data sourcethe key words “bronchiolitis”, “risk factor”, “genetics” and “respiratory syncytial virus”, and all combinations among them were used to perform a search in the PubMed, SciELO, and Lilacs databases, of articles published after the year 2000 that included individuals younger than 2 years of age.Data synthesisa total of 1,259 articles were found, and their respective summaries were read. Of these, 81 were selected, which assessed risk factors for the severity of AVB, and were read in full; the 60 most relevant studies were included. The epidemiologic factors associated with AVB severity by RSV were prematurity, passive smoking, young age, lack of breastfeeding, chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, male gender, ethnicity, viral coinfection, low weight at admission, maternal smoking during pregnancy, atopic dermatitis, mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period, maternal history of atopy and/or asthma during pregnancy, season of birth, low socioeconomic status, Down syndrome, environmental pollution, living at an altitude > 2,500 meters above sea level, and cesarean section birth. Conversely, some children with severe AVB did not present any of these risk factors. In this regard, recent studies have verified the influence of genetic factors on the severity of AVB by RSV. Polymorphisms of the TLRs, RANTES, JUN, IFNA5, NOS2, CX3CR1, ILs, and VDR genes have been shown to be associated with more severe evolution of AVB by RSV.Conclusionthe severity of AVB by RSV is a phenomenon that depends on the varying degrees of interaction among epidemiological, environmental, and genetic variables.     

Prospective cohort analyzing risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression in children

Objective

To identify risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression in Brazilian children and to evaluate the interactions between factors.

Risk factors for neonatal death in the capital city with the lowest infant mortality rate in Brazil

Objectives

To analyze the risk factors for neonatal death in Florianópolis, the Brazilian city capital with the lowest infant mortality rate.

重庆城区婴幼儿超重与肥胖状况及影响因素的研究

目的：了解重庆城区婴幼儿超重与肥胖现况及其危险因素,为儿童肥胖早期干预提供依据。方法：采用分层整群抽样的方法,对生后1月龄的2139名儿童进行3、6、9、12和18月龄的生长监测、评估和问卷调查。以18月龄是否超重与肥胖为应变量进行多元回归分析。结果：（1）婴儿超重与肥胖检出率生后前半年增长迅速,6月龄达26.04%,之后逐渐降低,至18个月龄时为15.89%。（2）Logistic回归分析显示父亲营养状况、儿童出生时、6月龄、9月龄和12月龄的营养状况、3月龄喂养方式、12月龄蔬菜进食频次、18月龄甜饮料添加频次以及18月龄上床时间共9个因素与18月龄儿童超重与肥胖显著相关。结论：重庆城区婴幼儿超重与肥胖现状突出,存在多种因素共同作用,应给予早期综合干预。     

Analysis of neonatal mortality risk factors in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

ObjectiveTo identify, using a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, which risk factors are significantly associated with neonatal mortality in Brazil, and to build a comprehensive national analysis on neonatal mortality.SourcesThis review included observational studies on neonatal mortality, performed between 2000 and 2018 in Brazilian cities. The MEDLINE, Elsevier, Cochrane, LILACS, SciELO, and OpenGrey databases were used. For the qualitative analysis, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used. For the quantitative analysis, the natural logarithms of the risk measures and their confidence intervals were used, as well as the DerSimonian and Laird method as a random effects model, and the Mantel–Haenszel model for heterogeneity estimation. A confidence level of 95% was considered.Summary of findingsThe qualitative analysis resulted in six studies of low and four studies of intermediate-low bias risk. The following exposure factors were significant: absence of partner, maternal age ≥35 years, male gender, multiple gestation, inadequate and absent prenatal care, presence of complications during pregnancy, congenital malformation in the assessed pregnancy, Apgar < 7 at the fifth minute, low and very low birth weight, gestational age ≤ 37 weeks, and caesarean delivery.ConclusionThe most significant risk factors presented in this study are modifiable, allowing aiming at a real reduction in neonatal deaths, which remain high in the country.