Childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and chronic respiratory symptoms in non-smoking adults: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke has been extensively associated with childhood respiratory illness; fewer studies have addressed the effects on adults.

Methods

Childhood environmental tobacco smoke exposure in relation to chronic cough, phlegm, and asthma diagnosis was studied in never smokers from a cohort of Singaporeans of Chinese ethnicity aged 45-74 years at enrollment from 1993 to 1998. From 1999 to 2004 subjects were interviewed regarding environmental tobacco smoke exposure before and after the age of 18 and the presence and duration of current symptoms of chronic cough and phlegm production and asthma diagnosis.

Results

Among 35,000 never smokers, fewer had smoking mothers (19%) than fathers (48%). Although few subjects currently

SUBMITTER: David GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1414787 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature