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
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 25 eligible articles, 18 domains of childhood risk
factors were assessed. Bronchiolitis/wheezing (pooled adjusted OR=5.32;
95% CI: 2.83-10.02; I 2=58%; number of outcomes
[N] =7), eczema (pooled adjusted OR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.42-2.84; I
2=79%; N=8), hay fever (pooled adjusted OR=3.31; 95%
CI: 2.26-4.85; I 2=0%; N=2), positive reaction of
skin prick test (SPT)(pooled adjusted OR=2.37; 95% CI: 1.18-4.77; I
2=54%; N=3), airway hyperresponsiveness (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. Association of childhood asthma and rhinitis with adult
asthma needs more studies to confirm. Childhood body mass index (BMI)
wasn’t found to be related to adult asthma (pooled adjusted OR=1.06;
95% CI: 0.57-1.97; I 2=78%; N=3). The evidence was
insufficient to draw conclusion for passive smoking, household
economical condition, keeping pets, girls matured early, slept for
insufficient durations, being abused, pneumonia, adenoidectomy and/or
tonsillectomy, cognitive ability. Conclusion: Childhood
bronchiolitis/wheezing, eczema, hay fever, positive reaction of SPT, AHR
and poor lung function were associated with an increased risk of adult
asthma. These identified risk factors would be helpful for the early
prevention of the adult asthma. And future studies might need to clarify
and supplement existing conclusions from more aspects.