Original Article

Children with smoking parents have a higher airway resistance measured by the interruption technique

  1. Elisabeth M.W. Kooi MD1,*,
  2. Elianne J.L.E. Vrijlandt MD1,
  3. H. Marike Boezen PhD2,
  4. Eric J. Duiverman MD, PhD1

Article first published online: 13 AUG 2004

DOI: 10.1002/ppul.20093

Issue

Pediatric Pulmonology

Pediatric Pulmonology

Volume 38, Issue 5, pages 419–424, November 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kooi, E. M., Vrijlandt, E. J., Boezen, H. M. and Duiverman, E. J. (2004), Children with smoking parents have a higher airway resistance measured by the interruption technique. Pediatric Pulmonology, 38: 419–424. doi: 10.1002/ppul.20093

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

*Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Groningen University Hospital, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 SEP 2004
  2. Article first published online: 13 AUG 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 4 JUN 2004
  4. Manuscript Revised: 29 MAY 2004
  5. Manuscript Received: 6 FEB 2004

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Keywords:

  • passive smoke exposure;
  • interruption technique;
  • preschool child;
  • reference values;
  • lung function

Abstract

Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, during or after pregnancy, are known to have decreased lung function. So far this has been measured using spirometry in schoolchildren and invasive techniques in newborns. The interruption technique (Rint) is a noninvasive technique to measure airway resistance in preschool children. Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of passive smoke exposure on Rint values in preschool and school-aged children. Rint values were obtained from 557 children in two nursery and two primary schools in the north of the Netherlands. Besides information on parental smoking habits, we collected data on characteristics that might affect airway resistance (respiratory symptoms, atopy, and family history for asthma), using a short questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the associations of these characteristics with Rint, for the whole group as well as for the preschool group separately. Atopy or a positive family history for asthma did not affect Rint values in the total group of 4–12-year-olds. However, as may be expected, height, age, weight, and having respiratory symptoms were associated with Rint. Moreover, Rint was significantly increased if parents smoked three or more cigarettes a day in the presence of their child. This result remained after subgroup analysis in the preschool children (4–6 years old). We conclude that passive smoke exposure is associated with a significantly higher airway resistance in preschool and school-aged children measured by Rint. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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