Child asthma hospital admissions fall after smoking ban in cars
Hospital admissions for asthma in children aged under five fell in Scotland in the two years following legislation that banned smoking in vehicles when youngsters are present, according to a new study.
A law came into force in Scotland in December 2016 which made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle carrying anyone under 18.
Research led by the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, looked at data on all asthma emergency admissions to hospital in Scotlandbetween2000and2018for children younger than 16.
The researchers found that after the smoke-free vehicle legislation was passed, asthma hospital admissions fell by 1.49% per month among preschool children, though not in older children.
Thestudyalsoshowsthathospitaladmissionsfellsignificant
ly among children living in the most affluent areas (by 2.27% per month) but not in those living in the most deprived areas.
There was no change in admissions to hospital for otherrespiratoryconditionsorgastroenteritis following the legislation.
Professor Jill Pell, lead author fromtheuniversityofglasgow, said: "Our study demonstrates the significant benefit to children that smoke-free vehicle legislation has had.
"We found that the reduction in asthma hospitalisations was specific to pre-school children, which is plausible given that exposure to parental smoke is more likely among pre-school children,whospendmoretime with their parents.
"Ourfindingsalsosuggesteda possiblewideningofhealthinequalities whereby the relative reduction in childhood asthma hospitalisations was greater among those living in the most affluentareas.thiscouldbedue to different starting points or differences in car ownership or compliancewiththelegislation; but merits further research."
Exposure of pre-school children to second-hand smoke is thought to be mainly due to parental smoking in their homesorfamilyvehicles.globally, exposure to second-hand smoke is said to be responsible foranestimated169,000deaths in childhood each year.
Researchers also took into account the fact that in Scotland, childhood asthma hospital admissions had already fallen as a result of legislation in 2006.