Table 2.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population at the time of onset of first wheezing episode
| Characteristic | Control group (n = 119) | Children with wheezing (n = 119) | P-value | Children with non-recurrent wheezing (n = 45) | Children with recurrent wheezing (n = 74) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Females, n (%) | 43 (36.1) | 43 (36.1) | 1.00 | 16 (35.6) | 27 (36.5) | 0.92 |
| Median age (range), months | 6 (0.3-12) | 6 (0.3-12) | 1.00 | 6 (0.3-12) | 6 (0.3-12) | 1.00 |
| Caucasians, n (%) | 113 (95.0) | 113 (95.0) | 1.00 | 42 (93.3) | 71 (95.9) | 0.67 |
| Median gestational age (range), weeks | 38.3 (37-41) | 38.1 (37-41) | 0.97 | 38.2 (37-41) | 37.6 (37-40) | 0.94 |
| Subjects breastfed ≥3 months, n (%) | 82 (68.9) | 73 (61.3) | 0.27 | 29 (64.4) | 44 (59.5) | 0.72 |
| Subjects regularly using pacifier, n (%) | 30 (25.2) | 31 (26.1) | 1.00 | 10 (22.2) | 21 (28.4) | 0.59 |
| Subjects with at least one older sibling, n (%) | 28 (23.5) | 33 (27.7) | 0.55 | 12 (26.7) | 21 (28.4) | 0.99 |
| Subjects exposed to cigarette smoke, n (%) | 55 (46.2) | 79 (66.4) | 0.002 | 26 (57.8) | 53 (71.6) | 0.17 |
| Subjects with high IgE levels, n (%) | 11 (9.2) | 76 (63.9) | <0.001 | 24 (53.3) | 52 (70.3) | 0.09 |
| Subjects with a family history of atopy, n (%) | 24 (20.2) | 85 (71.4) | <0.001 | 24 (53.3) | 61 (82.4) | 0.001 |