Antibiotic Use in Children Before Asthma Diagnosis
Author Information
Author(s): Marra Fawziah, Marra Carlo A, Richardson Kathryn, Lynd Larry D, FitzGerald Mark J
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
Is antibiotic consumption greater in children who develop asthma compared to those who do not?
Conclusion
Children with asthma consume more antibiotics than those without asthma, especially in the months leading up to their diagnosis.
Supporting Evidence
- 52% of children diagnosed with asthma had antibiotics dispensed in the 6 months prior to diagnosis.
- The rate of antibiotic consumption was highest in the month before asthma diagnosis.
- Children with asthma were 1.66 times more likely to receive antibiotics in the month before diagnosis compared to the previous 5 months.
- Antibiotic use was associated with misdiagnosis of asthma as respiratory infections.
- Exposure to antibiotics in the first year of life was linked to increased antibiotic use before asthma diagnosis.
Takeaway
Kids who get asthma often take more antibiotics before they find out they have it, which might mean doctors are sometimes confused about what's wrong.
Methodology
The study used population-based data to analyze antibiotic dispensing rates in children with and without asthma over a follow-up period.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of asthma diagnosis due to reliance on administrative data.
Limitations
Important confounders like family history and maternal smoking could not be adjusted for in the analysis.
Participant Demographics
Children born in British Columbia, Canada, from January 1997 to December 2003.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.66
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.60-1.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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