Journal article
Childhood infections and the risk of asthma: A longitudinal study over 37 years
JA Burgess, MJ Abramson, LC Gurrin, GB Byrnes, MC Matheson, CL May, GG Giles, DP Johns, JL Hopper, EH Walters, SC Dharmage
Chest | ELSEVIER | Published : 2012
Abstract
Background: Few studies have examined common childhood infections and adult asthma. We examined associations between childhood infectious diseases, childhood pneumonia, and current, persisting, and incident asthma to middle age. Methods: We analyzed data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). A history of pneumonia was ascertained from their parents when the TAHS participants were 7 years old. Measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox, diphtheria, and pertussis were identified from school medical records. Associations with current, persisting, or incident asthma were examined using regression techniques. Results: Greater infectious diseases load was negatively associated with persist..
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Funding Acknowledgements
[ "The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study is supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia; the Victorian, Queensland, and Tasmanian Asthma Foundations; the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust; the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation; and the University of Melbourne. Drs Matheson, Hopper, Gurrin, and Dharmage are supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia. Dr Burgess is supported by the Centre for Research Excellence in Chronic Respiratory Disease, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania.", "The authors have reported to CHEST the following conflicts of interest: Dr Abramson was a member of the scientific committee for a symposium that was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. Dr Dharmage received research funds from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia to conduct the project presented in this manuscript, but has no conflict of interest to declare. Drs Burgess, Gurrin, Byrnes, Matheson, Giles, Johns, Hopper, and Walters and Ms May have reported that no potential conflicts of interest exist with any companies/organizations whose products or services may be discussed in this article." ]