Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorDalvie, Aqiel
dc.contributor.authorMahmoud, Hussein Yasmeen
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-04T08:52:05Z
dc.date.available2025-03-04T08:52:05Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-03-04T08:47:44Z
dc.description.abstractAsthma continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in SubSaharan Africa. Ongoing under-diagnosis and treatment in low-and middle-income countries, together exposure to airborne pollutants and allergens contribute to this disease burden. A cross-sectional study that recruited 590 school children residing in four informal settlements in the Western Cape province was conducted to assess the role of sex and atopic status on the association between air pollutants and childhood asthma. Exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 were estimated for individual homes using a land-use regression model, while pollen and fungal spores were measured using spore traps positioned in each study area during the follow-up study between May 2016 and September 2016. Asthma-related outcomes were obtained using the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in children (ISAAC) questionnaire, spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing. The study found that increased annual grass pollen levels and annual NO2 levels were positively associated with airway obstruction (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.02-5.03) for annual grass pollen and FeNO (OR: 2.43, 95% CI:1.19-4.98) for annual NO2 and (OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.07-10.99) for grass pollen. Furthermore, there was evidence of effect modification by sex and atopy since associations were much stronger among boys and atopic children. Annual NO2 levels were positively associated with FeNO>35ppb among boys (OR:2.77, 95% CI: 1.02-7.47) but not girls. A strong positive association was also observed between higher annual grass pollen levels and FEV1< LLN in atopic children (OR: 4.46, 95% CI: 1.28-15.59). The study provides evidence that sex and atopy modify the association between annual long-term exposure to grass pollen and NO2 and asthma-related outcomes in children
dc.identifier.apacitationMahmoud, H. Y. (2024). <i>Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMahmoud, Hussein Yasmeen. <i>"Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMahmoud, H.Y. 2024. Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mahmoud, Hussein Yasmeen AB - Asthma continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in SubSaharan Africa. Ongoing under-diagnosis and treatment in low-and middle-income countries, together exposure to airborne pollutants and allergens contribute to this disease burden. A cross-sectional study that recruited 590 school children residing in four informal settlements in the Western Cape province was conducted to assess the role of sex and atopic status on the association between air pollutants and childhood asthma. Exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 were estimated for individual homes using a land-use regression model, while pollen and fungal spores were measured using spore traps positioned in each study area during the follow-up study between May 2016 and September 2016. Asthma-related outcomes were obtained using the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in children (ISAAC) questionnaire, spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing. The study found that increased annual grass pollen levels and annual NO2 levels were positively associated with airway obstruction (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.02-5.03) for annual grass pollen and FeNO (OR: 2.43, 95% CI:1.19-4.98) for annual NO2 and (OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.07-10.99) for grass pollen. Furthermore, there was evidence of effect modification by sex and atopy since associations were much stronger among boys and atopic children. Annual NO2 levels were positively associated with FeNO>35ppb among boys (OR:2.77, 95% CI: 1.02-7.47) but not girls. A strong positive association was also observed between higher annual grass pollen levels and FEV1< LLN in atopic children (OR: 4.46, 95% CI: 1.28-15.59). The study provides evidence that sex and atopy modify the association between annual long-term exposure to grass pollen and NO2 and asthma-related outcomes in children DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Public Health and Family Medicine LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa TI - Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMahmoud HY. Modification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41086en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066Eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectPublic Health and Family Medicine
dc.titleModification by sex and atopy of the effect of chemical air pollutions and biological air pollutants including pollen and fungal spores on children respiratory health in the Western Cape, Cape South Africa
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPH
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