A systematic review of asthma case definitions in 67 birth cohort studies.
Asthma
Birth cohorts
Case definition
Children
Journal
Paediatric respiratory reviews
ISSN: 1526-0550
Titre abrégé: Paediatr Respir Rev
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100898941
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Mar 2021
Mar 2021
Historique:
received:
11
12
2019
accepted:
23
12
2019
pubmed:
13
7
2020
medline:
29
10
2021
entrez:
13
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Birth cohort studies are a valuable source of information about potential risk factors for childhood asthma. To better understand similarities and variations in findings between birth cohort studies, the methodologies used to measure asthma require consideration. To review and appraise the definitions of "asthma" used in birth cohort studies. A literature search, conducted in December 2017 in the MEDLINE database and birth cohort repositories, identified 1721 citations published since 1990. Information extracted included: study name, year of publication, sample size, sample age, prevalence of asthma (%), study region, source of information about asthma, measured outcome, and asthma case definition. A meta-analysis evaluated whether asthma prevalence in cohorts from Europe and North America varied by the studies' definition of asthma and by their data sources. The final review included 67 birth cohorts, of which 48 (72%) were from Europe, 14 (21%) from North America, 3 (5%) from Oceania, 1 (1%) from Asia and 1 (1%) from South America. We identified three measured outcomes: "asthma ever", "current asthma", and "asthma" without further specification. Definitions of "asthma ever" were primarily based upon an affirmative parental response to the question whether the child had ever been diagnosed with asthma by a physician. The most frequently used definition of "current asthma" was "asthma ever" and either asthma symptoms or asthma medications in the last 12 months. This definition of "current asthma" was used in 16 cohorts. There was no statistically significant difference in the pooled asthma prevalence in European and North American cohorts that used questionnaire alone versus other data sources to classify asthma. There is substantial heterogeneity in childhood asthma definitions in birth cohort studies. Standardisation of asthma case definitions will improve the comparability and utility of future cohort studies and enable meta-analyses.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Birth cohort studies are a valuable source of information about potential risk factors for childhood asthma. To better understand similarities and variations in findings between birth cohort studies, the methodologies used to measure asthma require consideration.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To review and appraise the definitions of "asthma" used in birth cohort studies.
METHODS
METHODS
A literature search, conducted in December 2017 in the MEDLINE database and birth cohort repositories, identified 1721 citations published since 1990. Information extracted included: study name, year of publication, sample size, sample age, prevalence of asthma (%), study region, source of information about asthma, measured outcome, and asthma case definition. A meta-analysis evaluated whether asthma prevalence in cohorts from Europe and North America varied by the studies' definition of asthma and by their data sources.
RESULTS
RESULTS
The final review included 67 birth cohorts, of which 48 (72%) were from Europe, 14 (21%) from North America, 3 (5%) from Oceania, 1 (1%) from Asia and 1 (1%) from South America. We identified three measured outcomes: "asthma ever", "current asthma", and "asthma" without further specification. Definitions of "asthma ever" were primarily based upon an affirmative parental response to the question whether the child had ever been diagnosed with asthma by a physician. The most frequently used definition of "current asthma" was "asthma ever" and either asthma symptoms or asthma medications in the last 12 months. This definition of "current asthma" was used in 16 cohorts. There was no statistically significant difference in the pooled asthma prevalence in European and North American cohorts that used questionnaire alone versus other data sources to classify asthma.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
There is substantial heterogeneity in childhood asthma definitions in birth cohort studies. Standardisation of asthma case definitions will improve the comparability and utility of future cohort studies and enable meta-analyses.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32653466
pii: S1526-0542(20)30020-8
doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2019.12.005
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Meta-Analysis
Review
Systematic Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
89-98Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.