Recorded presentation

Camila Corvalán¹, Roberto Rona², Patricia Bustos³, and Hugo Amigo³. (1) Department of International Health. Nutrition Program., Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, IL 30322, 678-640-1995, ccorval@sph.emory.edu, (2) Department of Public Health Sciences, Kings College London, 42 Weston Street SE1 3QD, London, United Kingdom, (3) Nutrition Department, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile

Background: The association between socio-economic status (SES) and asthma is inconsistent across countries. Most of these studies have been carried out in developed countries and have utilized single measurements of SES. Objective: To study the association between multiple socio-economic indicators and asthma in young adults from a semi-rural area of Chile. Methods: 1232 young adults born between 1974-1978 in a semi-rural area in Chile completed an administered questionnaire. Data on asthma were collected using the standardized European Community Respiratory Health Survey and SES was measured in terms of years of education, occupation, belongings, housing and completion of a welfare form. Participants also were skin tested to eight allergens and their bronchial responsiveness to a methacholine challenge was assessed. Results: Less number of belongings was a risk factor for asthma symptoms and severity of asthma (OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.01-1.80; OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.10-4.04). Less years of education and no access to car were associated with bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) (OR= 1.08, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, OR= 1.61, 95%CI 1.10-2.50). No completion of the welfare form and a less crowded household were related to those with asthma symptoms and atopy (OR=1.86, 95%CI 1.18-2.85; OR=2.44, 95%CI 1.26-4.70). BHR was more prevalent in those with a less overcrowded household (OR= 2.35, 95%CI 1.20-3.50). Conclusions: The type of socio-economic indicator and the direction of the association between SES and asthma depended on the assessment of asthma used.

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