Title:Childhood risk factors influencing adult asthma:a systematic
review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background:Despite the challenge of associating childhood risk
factors with adult asthma, a systematic synthesis of evidence on the
risk factors is lacking. We performed a systematic review and
meta-analysis of the association between childhood risk factors and
adult asthma. Methods:We systematically searched the PubMed,
EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science electronic databases from
the inception to our last search date (10 November 2022). The search
strategy included key words for risk childhood risk factors and adult
asthma. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality
of the included studies. Results: Of 16 eligible articles, 16
domains of childhood risk factors were assessed. Bronchiolitis/wheezing
(pooled adjusted OR=5.02; 95% CI: 2.88-8.75; I
2=58%; number of outcomes [N] =8), eczema (pooled
adjusted OR=2.06; 95% CI: 1.44-2.95; I 2=82%; N=7),
hay fever (pooled adjusted OR=3.31; 95% CI: 2.26-4.85; I
2=0%; N=2), AHR (pooled adjusted OR=2.73; 95% CI:
1.52-4.88; I 2=0%; N=2) and pool lung function
(pooled adjusted OR=2.88; 95% CI: 1.41-5.87; I 2=0%;
N=2) during childhood increased the risk of adult asthma and no
association were detected for positive reaction of SPT (pooled adjusted
OR=1.42; 95% CI: 0.64-3.17; I 2=70%; N=2) and adult
asthma risk. There was too little evidence to draw conclusion for
childhood asthma, rhinitis, sleep duration patterns, abuse, early
menarche, overweight, household income, ever-smoking status during
childhood, intense obstructive disease and furry pets at home in
infancy. Conclusion: Childhood bronchiolitis/wheezing, eczema,
hay fever, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and poor lung function were
associated with an increased risk of adult asthma. The identified risk
factors need more interventions timely to achieve the goal of preventing
adult asthma.