Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis, Eczema, and the Association with Perinatal Anthropometric Factors in Vietnamese Children

Few studies have investigated possible causative and protective factors associated with allergic diseases in resource-limited countries, Southeast Asia. We estimated the current prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema among 6-year-old children, and identified anthropometric factors associated with asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, in South-Central Vietnam. A birth cohort study recruited 1,999 children born at a provincial hospital in Nha Trang, Vietnam between May 2009 and May 2010. A 6-year follow-up survey was conducted where clinical, familial, and environmental information was collected by interviewing caregivers using a standardized form based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, Phase Three Core and Environmental Questionnaire for 6-7-year-old children. The odds ratios of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema for anthropometric factors were estimated using logistic regression analysis. In total, 1202 children participated in the follow-up survey. The proportions of children who had current asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema were 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.9-6.5%), 11.5% (9.7-13.4%), and 6.7% (5.3-8.2%), respectively. Low birthweight (adjusted odds ratio 5.12, 95% CI 1.92-13.64) was independently associated with increased risk of eczema. Further studies are necessary to understand the involved mechanism.