Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background This study aimed to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on epidemiological studies in order to estimate the global and regional prevalence and to identify risk factors associated with childhood asthma. Methods A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Weijun Zhou, Jia Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05409-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585378958147584
author Weijun Zhou
Jia Tang
author_facet Weijun Zhou
Jia Tang
author_sort Weijun Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on epidemiological studies in order to estimate the global and regional prevalence and to identify risk factors associated with childhood asthma. Methods A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases was conducted for relevant literature published from their inception to March 31, 2023. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of childhood asthma. Secondary endpoint focused on the identification of risk factors associated with childhood asthma. Results A total of 1,547,404 children participated in the 164 studies selected for the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of childhood asthma was 10.2% (95% CI: 9.5-11.0%), while the prevalence of childhood asthma in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania, Africa, or Eurasia were 10% (95%CI: 7-13%), 9% (95%CI: 7-12%), 14% (95%CI: 9-20%), 13% (95%CI: 12-14%), 23% (95%CI: 19-28%), 11% (95%CI: 7-19%), and 8% (95%CI: 2-27%), respectively. Moreover, the identified risk factors for childhood asthma included older age, male sex, obesity, parental smoking, high education of the mother, premature birth, cesarean section, no breastfeeding, family history of asthma, rhinitis, eczema, pets, high density of road traffic, meat, margarine, fast food, paracetamol use, and antibiotic use. Conclusion Childhood asthma is common, and the prevalence of asthma is highest in Oceania, with a lower prevalence in Eurasia. Moreover, the risk factors for childhood asthma were comprehensively identified, and health education should be provided to prevent modifiable factors.
format Article
id doaj-art-b526dda649a74c9a84e8f8eda8f3d24d
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2431
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-b526dda649a74c9a84e8f8eda8f3d24d2025-01-26T12:52:47ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-01-012511910.1186/s12887-025-05409-xPrevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysisWeijun Zhou0Jia Tang1Department of Pediatrics, Chongqing Yubei District People’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, Chongqing Yubei District People’s HospitalAbstract Background This study aimed to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on epidemiological studies in order to estimate the global and regional prevalence and to identify risk factors associated with childhood asthma. Methods A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases was conducted for relevant literature published from their inception to March 31, 2023. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of childhood asthma. Secondary endpoint focused on the identification of risk factors associated with childhood asthma. Results A total of 1,547,404 children participated in the 164 studies selected for the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of childhood asthma was 10.2% (95% CI: 9.5-11.0%), while the prevalence of childhood asthma in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania, Africa, or Eurasia were 10% (95%CI: 7-13%), 9% (95%CI: 7-12%), 14% (95%CI: 9-20%), 13% (95%CI: 12-14%), 23% (95%CI: 19-28%), 11% (95%CI: 7-19%), and 8% (95%CI: 2-27%), respectively. Moreover, the identified risk factors for childhood asthma included older age, male sex, obesity, parental smoking, high education of the mother, premature birth, cesarean section, no breastfeeding, family history of asthma, rhinitis, eczema, pets, high density of road traffic, meat, margarine, fast food, paracetamol use, and antibiotic use. Conclusion Childhood asthma is common, and the prevalence of asthma is highest in Oceania, with a lower prevalence in Eurasia. Moreover, the risk factors for childhood asthma were comprehensively identified, and health education should be provided to prevent modifiable factors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05409-xPrevalenceRisk factorsChildhoodAsthmaSystematic reviewMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Weijun Zhou
Jia Tang
Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Pediatrics
Prevalence
Risk factors
Childhood
Asthma
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
title Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort prevalence and risk factors for childhood asthma a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Prevalence
Risk factors
Childhood
Asthma
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05409-x
work_keys_str_mv AT weijunzhou prevalenceandriskfactorsforchildhoodasthmaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT jiatang prevalenceandriskfactorsforchildhoodasthmaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis