Table 1 Main characteristics of 423 children and adolescents with asthma, by pneumococcal carriage
Characteristic | All children (n = 423) n (%) | Carriers (n = 192) n (%) | Non-carriers (n = 231) n (%) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | ||||
<10 | 176 (41.6) | 93 (48.4) | 83 (35.9) | |
10–14 | 207 (48.9) | 90 (46.9) | 117 (50.6) | |
≥15 | 40 (9.5) | 9 (4.7) | 31 (13.4) | <0.001 |
Gender | ||||
Male | 300 (70.9) | 136 (70.8) | 164 (71.0) | |
Female | 123 (29.1) | 56 (29.2) | 67 (29.0) | 0.97 |
Ethnicity | ||||
Caucasian | 372 (87.9) | 170 (88.5) | 202 (87.5) | |
Non-Caucasian | 51 (12.1) | 22 (11.5) | 29 (12.5) | 0.73 |
No. of siblingsa | ||||
0 | 100 (23.8) | 46 (24.2) | 54 (23.5) | |
1 | 217 (51.7) | 99 (52.1) | 118 (52.3) | |
2 | 82 (19.5) | 37 (19.5) | 45 (19.6) | |
≥3 | 21 (5.0) | 8 (4.2) | 13 (5.6) | 0.63 |
Parental smoking habit | ||||
Both non-smokers | 276 (65.2) | 119 (62.0) | 157 (68.0) | |
At least one smoker | 147 (34.8) | 73 (38.0) | 74 (32.0) | 0.20 |
Gestational age (weeks)a | ||||
<37 | 49 (11.7) | 13 (6.8) | 36 (15.7) | |
≥37 | 370 (88.3) | 177 (93.2) | 193 (84.3) | 0.005 |
Birth weight (g)a | ||||
<2500 | 39 (9.3) | 13 (6.8) | 26 (11.5) | |
≥2500 | 378 (90.7) | 177 (93.2) | 201 (88.5) | 0.11 |
Exclusive breastfeedinga | ||||
No | 139 (32.9) | 56 (29.3) | 83 (35.9) | |
Yes | 283 (67.1) | 135 (70.7) | 148 (64.1) | 0.15 |
Allergic sensitisation | ||||
No | 59 (14.0) | 26 (13.5) | 33 (14.3) | |
Yes | 364 (86.0) | 166 (86.5) | 198 (85.7) | 0.83 |
Meningococcal vaccination | ||||
No | 227 (53.7) | 99 (51.6) | 128 (55.4) | |
Yes | 196 (46.3) | 93 (48.4) | 103 (44.6) | 0.43 |
Flu vaccination during current seasona | ||||
No | 351 (83.0) | 162 (84.4) | 189 (81.8) | |
Yes | 72 (17.0) | 30 (15.6) | 42 (18.2) | 0.49 |