Mode of delivery and neonatal characteristics as risk factors for
childhood asthma in Qatar: a case-control study
Abstract
Background: Asthma rates are rising globally, posing a
significant public health challenge. In Qatar, childhood asthma affects
34.6% of children, making it a common chronic condition.The global
scope of existing literature on the association between childhood asthma
and perinatal and neonatal risk factors may not fully account for
Qatar’s distinctive socio-cultural, genetic, and healthcare aspects.
Therefore, this research aims to emphasize the importance of considering
regional variations in health outcomes. Objectives: To
investigate the association between childhood asthma development and
mode of delivery, gestational age, and birthweight in Qatar.
Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was
conducted in Qatar across Hamad General, Al Wakrah, and Al Khor
hospitals from January 2020 to July 2023, including 830 asthma cases and
1,512 non-asthma controls aged 6-14 years. Secondary data from
Electronic Medical Records were analyzed using logistic regression, with
odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) calculated for each
factor. Confounders were managed through Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG),
and multiple imputations addressed missing data.
Results: Asthma prevalence was 35.4%. Compared to
controls, asthma cases were more likely to be males (65% vs 41%) and
have a family history of asthma (31.3% vs 1.7%). In addition, Cesarean
delivery (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 0.92, 1.44), preterm birth (aOR 1.07, 95%
CI 0.79), and low birth weight (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.61, 1.73) showed
slight increases in asthma risk. However, none of these associations
reached statistical significance. Conclusion: Despite
non-significant associations, findings underscore the importance of
considering regional variations and context-specific research.