Risk Factors Associated with Atopic Asthma among Yemeni Children in Sana’a city: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background : Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease, affecting millions of people of all ages worldwide. The average global prevalence ranges from 5 to 10%. Asthma is influenced by complex interactions between particular external factors such as pollution, viral and bacterial infections, allergens, and tobacco smoke, as well as an individual’s genetic makeup. This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with atopic asthma in children in Sana’a City, Yemen.

Methods: This case-control study included 75 Yemeni children diagnosed with bronchial asthma and 75 healthy control children, matched for age and sex. Data were collected from each participant using a pre-designed questionnaire. Clinical assessments by a pulmonologist confirmed the definitive diagnosis of bronchial asthma in children. Laboratory confirmation was performed by measuring both serum Interleukin-13 (IL-13) levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels using the electrochemiluminescence technique.

Results: Living in urban areas served as a protective factor and was associated with a lower likelihood of atopic asthma in children than in those living in rural areas (χ²=5.4, OR = 0.3, CI = 0.08-0.9, p = 0.03). Similarly, the use of gas only in the kitchen serves as a protective factor and is linked to a reduced likelihood of atopic asthma in children compared to using a mixture of gas and wood (χ²  =7.9, OR = 0.08, CI = 0.01 - 0.7, p = 0.02). Although family history and the presence of other allergic disease factors were associated with atopic asthma in the univariate analysis, their significance was not maintained in the multivariate logistic regression model.

 Conclusion: The findings suggest that living in urban areas and using gas as the sole fuel source in the kitchen are associated with a lower risk of atopic asthma. The authors also highlighted the significant role of environmental factors in atopic asthma.