The research underscores the significance of effectively managing poor asthma control, which, if left uncontrolled, contributes significantly to emergency hospital admissions and ranks among the top 10 causes of disability-adjusted life years lost in children.
A recent study from the University of Alberta highlights the crucial connection between perinatal health and early life events with poor asthma control in children
Maria Ospina, the senior author, emphasizes the substantial impact on the healthcare system and educational disruption when children experience poor asthma control, urging early intervention for improved outcomes. Asthma, affecting up to 13% of Canadian children, poses a chronic health challenge, with lasting effects on lung function into adulthood.
Examining data from over 7,200 children diagnosed with asthma before age five in Alberta, the study identifies factors such as antibiotic use, gestational diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, C-section birth, summer birth, and severe respiratory infections in early life as linked to an elevated risk of poor asthma control in preschoolers.
Lead author Linn Moore underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating these risk factors, offering a message to families about prevention and awareness
The study refrains from blaming mothers for individual exposures during pregnancy, emphasizing the need for support and information to empower healthy choices during this critical period. Ospina emphasizes that supporting mothers is key to implementing effective health strategies for controlling childhood asthma symptoms.