Impact of smoking habits on the every day life of asthmatic adolescents

The impact of asthma on every day life is an important consideration in asthma management. Tobacco use often starts during adolescence, but little is known about its effect on the asthmatic process. The aim of this study is to describe the impact of smoking habits on the every day life of adolescents with asthma. A survey of respiratory symptoms in children aged 13-14 years was conducted in Bordeaux France as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). 494 out of the 3.302 adolescents surveyed had a diagnosis of asthma. They filled in a further questionnaire on smoking habits and on the impact asthma had on their every day life. Respiratory symptoms were more frequent among current smoking asthmatic adolescents than non-smoking asthmatic adolescents. The impact of asthma on daily life, with implications for performance at school, family life, psychological status and future job prospects were different for smokers and non-smokers, with problems more prevalent for active smoking asthmatic adolescents. In a multiple regression analysis with confounding factors adjustment, school absence was reported more often in active smokers. Active smoking has an important impact on the every day life of asthmatic adolescents.