The Risk Factors for Asthma in Adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To identify risk factors for asthma in adolescents and provide a reference for disease management. A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases from inception to November 1, 2024. The study used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. The range of scores for inclusion in the study was 7 to 9. Heterogeneous results were pooled using a random-effects model and reported as odds ratio (OR). Fifteen studies comprising 73, 314 participants were included. The results of forest map showed that a total of 12 risk factors were associated with asthma in adolescents. Previous hypersensitivity reaction (OR 2.87 [95% CI 2.50–3.31]; p< 0.001), history of family hypersensitivity reaction (OR 2.35 [95% CI 1.93–2.86]; p< 0.001), history of family asthma (OR 2.48 [95% CI 1.97–3.12]; p< 0.001), active smoking (OR 1.47 [95% CI 1.28, 1.69]; p< 0.001), exposure to secondhand smoke (OR 1.27 [95% CI 1.20–1.34]; p< 0.001), domestic animals (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.13–1.29]; p< 0.001), outdoor pollution (OR 1.27 [95% CI 1.15, 1.41]; p< 0.001), and biofuel (OR 1.10 [95% CI 1.02–1.19]; p< 0.001), and obese/overweight (OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.13–1.40]; p< 0.001), private school (OR 1.82 [95% CI 1.52–2.18]; p< 0.001), and female (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.11– 1.32]; p< 0.001) were found to be correlated. This study may provide a reference to inform the development of preventive strategies and management of adolescent asthma.