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Meta-Analysis
. 2010 Mar;118(3):313-7.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901143. Epub 2009 Nov 6.

Formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children: a systematic review

Gerald McGwin  1 , Jeffrey Lienert, John I Kennedy
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children: a systematic review

Gerald McGwin et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Despite multiple published studies regarding the association between formaldehyde exposure and childhood asthma, a consistent association has not been identified. Here we report the results of a systematic review of published literature in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of this relationship.

Data sources: After a comprehensive literature search, we identified seven peer-reviewed studies providing quantitative results regarding the association between formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children. Studies were heterogeneous with respect to the definition of asthma (e.g., self-report, physician diagnosis). Most of the studies were cross-sectional.

Data extraction: For each study, an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for asthma were either abstracted from published results or calculated based on the data provided. Characteristics regarding the study design and population were also abstracted.

Data synthesis: We used fixed- and random-effects models to calculate pooled ORs and 95% CIs; measures of heterogeneity were also calculated. A fixed-effects model produced an OR of 1.03 (95% CI, 1.021.04), and random effects model produced an OR of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.011.36), both reflecting an increase of 10 microg/m3 of formaldehyde. Both the Q and I2 statistics indicated a moderate amount of heterogeneity.

Conclusions: Results indicate a significant positive association between formaldehyde exposure and childhood asthma. Given the largely cross-sectional nature of the studies underlying this meta-analysis, further well-designed prospective epidemiologic studies are needed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Forest plot of the relative risk estimates and their 95% CIs from the studies included in the meta-analysis of the association between formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children based upon a fixed-effects model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the relative risk estimates and their 95% CIs from the studies included in the meta-analysis of the association between formaldehyde exposure and asthma in children based on a random-effects model.
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