Objective To investigate the associations of home dampness with childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Urumqi, and to provide scientific evidence for further prevention against asthma and allergic diseases in children.
Methods Totally 5 650 children (1-8 years old) were invited to a questionnaire survey by multistage cluster sampling in seven administrative areas in Urumqi during October to December 2011. The questionnaire consisted of four parts including socio-demographic characteristics, parents' and children's health conditions, housing and residential characteristics, and signs of home dampness. Chisquare analysis and non-conditional logistic regression model were used to evaluate the associations between signs of home dampness and childhood asthma/allergic diseases.
Results A total of 4 618 valid questionnaires were returned (response rate, 81.7%) and boys accounted for 53.7%. Water condensation in windows had the highest report rate (20.8%), followed by water leakage (15.1%), damp stains (14.1%), and mold spots (8.6%). In addition, 46.4% of the children reported rhinitis ever. In last 12 months, 42.7% of the children reported rhinitis and 25.3% did wheezing. The reported rates were 3.7% for physician-diagnosed asthma and 8.7% for physician-diagnosed rhinitis, respectively. Signs of home dampness were positively associated with childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Significant associations were identified between damp stain and wheezing in last 12 months (OR=1.57; 95%CI:1.27-1.95), mold spot and physician-diagnosed asthma (OR=2.18; 95%CI:1.30-3.67), water condensation in windows (OR=1.62; 95%CI:1.09-2.40) or water leakage (OR=1.93; 95%CI:1.35-2.76) and eczema in last 12 months. Additionally, the associations were stronger with an increased level of the dampness signs, particularly for symptoms in the last 12 months.
Conclusion Home dampness is likely one potential risk factor for childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Urumqi.
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