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. 2004 Feb;94(2):308-13.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.2.308.

Effects of tobacco smoke exposure on asthma prevalence and medical care use in North Carolina middle school children

Jesse J Sturm  1 , Karin Yeatts, Dana Loomis
Affiliations

Effects of tobacco smoke exposure on asthma prevalence and medical care use in North Carolina middle school children

Jesse J Sturm et al. Am J Public Health. 2004 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and childhood cigarette smoking on asthma symptoms among middle school children in North Carolina.

Methods: During 1999-2000, information was collected from a survey completed by the children. Outcomes of asthma symptom reporting were regressed on tobacco smoke exposures.

Results: Children who currently smoked or reported any exposure to ETS were at increased risk of reporting active asthma symptoms. Exposure to ETS and childhood cigarette smoking was responsible for 15% of the asthma cases observed in the study population and $1.34 million in excess medical expenditures.

Conclusions: Even at low levels of exposure, childhood cigarette smoking and ETS are independently associated with asthmatic symptoms.

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