Asthma May Be Caused By Violence, Health Risk Behaviors

Violence, depression, and lifestyle factors such as poor sleep, marijuana use, and poor diet are associated with asthma in adolescents in the United States, according to new research presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2019 International Conference.

Results of the study were presented by lead researcher Erick Forno, MD, MPH, from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, May 22.

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To come to this conclusion, Dr Forno and colleagues examined the relationship between health risk behaviors, psychosocial stressors, and current asthma among adolescents in the United States.

Dr Forno and colleagues collected self-reported data from 24,612 high school students who responded to the 2009 and 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Surveys (YRBSS).

The researchers used multivariable logistic regression to analyze the self-reported health risk behaviors or psychosocial stressors and current asthma. Mediation analysis was also performed to investigate whether depressive symptoms or suicidal behavior contributed to the link between psychosocial stressors and current asthma.

Overall, 13.1% of responding adolescents reported current asthma.

Results of the multivariable analysis showed that female sex, obesity, shorter sleep duration, frequent soda/pop consumption, and marijuana use were significantly associated with 14% to 36% increased odds of current asthma, the researchers noted. Violent behavior, victimization, suicidal behavior, and having felt sad or hopeless in the past year were also associated with current asthma.

In addition, 21% of the association between victimization and asthma was mediated by having felt sad or hopeless.

“Asthma remains a significant public health burden among adolescents in the U.S. Potentially modifiable risk factors include obesity, poor sleep, soda/pop consumption, and psychosocial stressors,” the researchers concluded.

“In particular, depressive symptoms may explain part of the association between violence exposure and asthma. Promoting healthy life choices, early detection of violence exposure, and treatment of depressive symptoms could help reduce the asthma burden in this population.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Forno E, Han Y, Celedon JC. Violence exposure, health risk behaviors, and current asthma among U.S. adolescents. Paper presented at: ATS International Conference; May 17-22, 2019; Dallas, TX. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/5789/presentation/9872.