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Respiratory symptoms among urban and rural children and nearby traffic. P. Rudnai, Z. Virágh, M.J. Varró, Sz. Középesy National Institute of Environmental Health, „Fodor József” National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary. OBJECTIVE.
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Respiratory symptoms among urban and rural children and nearby traffic P. Rudnai, Z. Virágh, M.J. Varró, Sz. Középesy National Institute of Environmental Health, „Fodor József” National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the associations between the respiratory health of 7-11 year old children and busy road traffic near their homes
METHODS • STUDY AREAS: 26 towns and 7 counties’ 78 villages) • STUDY POPULATION: altogether 18,274 school-children • STUDY DESIGN: cross-sectional, between 1996-2001 • QUESTIONNAIRES completed by the parents • Questions on the children’s present and past medical history, • the parents’ health and smoking behaviour • the housing environment (including busy roads nearby), • the families’ socio-economic status • STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: logistic regression analysis with • adjustments for age and sex
METHODS II. • Questions on bronchitic symptoms (cough) • Does your child usually cough in the morning in autumn- • winter season? • Does your child usually cough during the day or at night in • autumn-winter season? • Did your child cough on most days for at least 3 months • consecutively in the last autumn-winter season? • Does your child usually cough up phlegm when he/she does • not have a cold?
METHODS III. • Questions on asthmatic symptoms • Has this child’s chest sounded wheezing or whistling in the • last twelve months? • Has this child been woken up by wheezing in the last twelve • months? • Has this child had a dry cough at night in the last twelve • months, apart from a cold or a chest infection? • Has this child ever had asthma, diagnosedby a doctor?
Associations between prevalence of reported bronchitic symptoms of school children and busy traffic in the neighbourhood in Hungarian studies n = 3,720 n =1,768 n = 1,580 n = 2,445 n =2,540
Associations between prevalence of reported asthmatic symptoms of school children and busy traffic in the neighbourhood in Hungarian studies n = 3,720 n =6,221 n =1,768 n = 1,580 n = 2,445 n =2,540
RESULTS • In urban areas significant associations were found between • the reported prevalence of asthmatic symptoms of school- • children and busy traffic near to their homes. • In the rural areas increased risks could also be observed • but statistically they were not significant. • The reported prevalence of bronchitic symptoms showed • similar patterns just the associations were weaker than • those of asthmatic symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS • Busy road traffic near the home of school-children • was found to be a risk factor for their respiratory • symptoms • There was a difference between the strength of the • associations in the urban or the rural areas • Objective assessment of the traffic density is needed • to support the arguments that this difference in the • strength of associations is due to the difference in • traffic density and in traffic-related air pollution
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